The federal employee leaves the rope on the desk of a black co-worker

An employee of the United States Mint in Philadelphia allegedly threatened his African-American colleague with a rope at work .

The unnamed employee, who operates coin-making machinery, allegedly made a rope with a rope used for coin bags, then crossed the factory floor and left it at his colleague's workstation, according to The New York Times. . The entire incident, which occurred on June 28, was captured in security images.

Rhonda Sapp, president of the Mint workers' union, confirmed to the Times that she was inundated with calls from horrified employees. The author was placed on administrative leave.

U.S. Officials of the Mint issued a statement on the incident, according to the CBS of Philadelphia:

We have absolutely zero tolerance for the type of misconduct reported in the House of Currency. [Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin] has ordered that this matter be handled quickly and seriously. The investigation is advancing rapidly. We strive every day for a welcoming and safe working environment for all.

Stelae, a common and blatant symbol of hate used to intimidate African-Americans, have been found in public places across the country this year.

In June, a rope was found hanging from a street lamp in front of the National Art Gallery in Washington, DC Also in Washington, on May 31, tourists found one lying on the floor inside the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and a week before, there was another hanging from a tree in the Hirshhorn Museum and in the Sculpture Garden.

Knots were also found in a fraternity house at the University of Maryland, a high school in Florida and two high schools in separate incidents in North Carolina. A Walker, Louisiana police officer resigned in March after leaving a rope in the department's squad room.

Meanwhile, bananas were found hanging from the knots of the American University in D.C. in May, after the reports in September of bananas that were used to harass students in two other incidents (the knots were not involved)

"Although this incident was aimed at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority chapter of the UA … and it happened after the first black woman and AKA member took office as president of the Student Government, our entire university community has been adversely affected by this cowardly and despicable act, "he said. at that time the president of the university, Neil Kerwin.

Although current data on the frequency of these acts are difficult to obtain, the FBI documented a 6.7 percent increase in hate crimes reported in 2015, and other groups have documented a much more dramatic increase over the course of the last election cycle .