Nation First, nooses. Now, a human effigy. Oakland, California, launches second hate crime investigation in 2 days. June 18, 2020June 19, 2020 Joshua Bote, USA TODAY Comments Off on First, nooses. Now, a human effigy. Oakland, California, launches second hate crime investigation in 2 days. A community member found a human effigy hanging from a tree Thursday near Lake Merritt, the same park where nooses were found this week, police say.