Halloween display showing apparent lynching of an African American family removed from US Army base

The figures were hung from a tree outside a residence in Fort Campbell

The display was seen in Litwin Street in Fort Campbell (Google Streetview)

A disturbing Halloween display depicting an apparent lynching has been taken down at a US Army base.

Officials confirmed that the figures had been removed from outside a residence on Litwin Street in Fort Campbell, which is located at the Kentucky-Tennessee border.

A photograph sent by a reader to ClarksvilleNow.com shows three black dummy figures hung by their necks from a tree.

Two are adult size and the third, which resembles a child, reportedly had a knife in its back.

The middle figure has a cardboard sign hung around its neck with illegible words written in red. Another childlike figure is seen clinging to the hanging dummy’s legs.

Brendalyn Carpenter, of the Fort Campbell public affairs department told ClarksvilleNow.com that they had been made aware of a Halloween display that was “offensive in nature” . She said it had since been removed by the owner of the property, who had apologised.

Carpenter added that the figures had not been intended to offend but that the authorities had decided they could be interpreted in that way.

“Displays of an offensive nature are not reflective of Army values and the family-friendly environment provided for employees and residents of the Fort Campbell community,” she said.