The Latest: Black stockings in trees anti-racism protest

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Latest on black stockings hanging from trees at Winthrop University (all times local):

2:35 p.m.

A group of artists says it is responsible for hanging black nylon stockings in a tree on a South Carolina university campus near a hall named for a post-Civil War-era racist.

The group called Association for Artists for Change posted a statemen t on Twitter on Monday asking why the artwork they put up early Sunday is more offensive than the name of Winthrop University’s Tillman Hall. The group said the display was meant to provoke change.

“Pitchfork” Ben Tillman helped lead a mob that killed four blacks in July 1876 as racist whites pushed to regain control of state government during Reconstruction. He served as South Carolina governor from 1890 to 1894.

Eighteen stockings filled with dirt to look abstractly like a human head and body were left hanging on branches and a sign with “Tillman’s Legacy” was taped to a plaque.

The university called the display “hurtful.”

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10:55 a.m.

Authorities are investigating after someone left black nylon stockings filled with dirt hanging from trees outside a South Carolina university hall named for an avowed racist.

A Winthrop University Police report says 18 stockings were found Sunday outside Tillman Hall, with a sign taped over a plaque reading “Tillman’s Legacy.”

Tillman was a South Carolina governor and a U.S. senator. He helped lead a mob that killed four blacks in July 1876 and said African-Americans were barbarians and savages.

The police report says the stockings appeared to be placed overnight. There was no security camera footage.

Winthrop president Dan Mahony says the university doesn’t know the reason for the display and will fully investigate the actions.

The university can’t change the name of Tillman Hall without legislative approval.

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This story has been corrected to state 18 stockings were found hanging from branches.