HAMDEN, Conn. — A controversial Halloween display in Hamden has drawn concern from members of the community, including the town mayor, along with the Greater New Haven NAACP.

A setup on Whitney Avenue shows nooses, gallows and barbed wire.

In a letter, the NAACP described the display as "deeply offensive" and "racially insensitive."

Mayor Lauren Garrett said the display recalls painful history , from Jim Crow-era lynchings to concentration camps. She said it doesn't reflect Hamden's values.

Garrett visited the homeowners herself, asking them to remove the display and consider how it impacts the community.

At a town hall meeting Tuesday, locals and council members voiced strong emotions. Many called the display hurtful, while others defended free expression.

One parent said

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