Couple says 'we're not racist' after Halloween decorations depicting lynching of black man

The homeowners said they assumed it was a white man who had been badly burned

An Alabama couple’s Halloween decoration depicting a lynching of what appears to be a black man has caused disgust and outrage.

A photo of the display was originally posted on Facebook by Alexus Cumbie, who warned the photo may be a trigger warning for some.

“Trigger warning: Fake display of a lynching,” she wrote.

According to Cumbie, a friend of hers had been driving through the town of Homewood, Alabama when she noticed the “sickening display” of a man hanging from a noose.

“The owner of this display has refused to take this down,” Cumbie wrote. “I’m encouraging everyone to share this post until Birmingham news outlets cover this."

Cumbie then clarified that she is not encouraging “violence nor harassment” on the homeowners by asking for the post to be shared.

“Let’s not meet bigotry at eye level but also let’s publicly condemn acts of racism in our beloved neighbourhoods,” she wrote.

Cumbie’s post has since been shared more than 10,000 times and received more than 2,000 comments from people outraged by the “disgusting” display.

“Repulsive ignorance,” one person commented.

However, homeowners Jennifer and Marc Wolfe deny they refused to take the display down - and are adamant that they meant “no harm” when they put up their annual Halloween decor.

Speaking to AL.com, Marc Wolfe said he originally thought the hanging man was white but made to look like he’d been badly burned - and had hung the decor the way it came.

“We’re not racist. Did I make a mistake? I guess so,” he said.

And according to the couple, they immediately removed the offensive display from their lawn Sunday morning after they realised “how it was perceived.”

“If they want to say we’re insensitive and should have known better, I’ll own up to that,” Marc Wolfe said.

Ms Wolfe further defended herself and her husband, telling the news outlet that neighbours "picked the wrong family to call racist."