Pa. Lawmakers Decry 'Lynching' Banner

Gun rights supporters hold up a sign during a rally at the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg, Pa., Tuesday, April 24, 2007, as they gather to oppose a bill introduced Rep. Angel Cruz, D-Philadelphia. (AP Photo/The Patriot-News, Gary Dwight Miller) (Gary Dwight Miller - AP)

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Black lawmakers want police to investigate protesters at a statehouse gun rights rally who held up a banner calling for an opponent to be "hung from the tree of liberty."

Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, told reporters the banner displayed Tuesday was "an act of racism, an act of hatred, an act of bigotry and a terroristic threat on the life of a colleague."

"No one has the right to call for the lynching of another human being _ no one," he said.

The banner targeted Rep. Angel Cruz, a Democrat of Puerto Rican descent who is sponsoring legislation to require gun registration and a $10-a-gun annual fee. The banner said he "should be hung from the tree of liberty for treasonous acts against the constitution."

Paul Estus, one of two men who held up the banner, said during the rally that the lynching tree was "just a figure of speech."

"You've got to make a stand," he said.

Rep. Jewell Williams, chairman of the Democrats' Philadelphia delegation, threatened a boycott on legislative business unless leaders of both parties agree to a policy or procedure to ban threatening signs from the Capitol.

Cruz asked Capitol Police to investigate.

His gun fee legislation has little chance of passing. Four of five co-sponsors have withdrawn their support, and it faces overwhelming opposition in the House.