Bush Honors John Lewis, Others For Black History Month

President Bush honored Georgia Congressman John Lewis and others Tuesday at an event marking Black History Month at the White House.

In his remarks, Bush took aim at a resurgence in the display of nooses as misguided and disturbing type of prank. The President said it indicates that some Americans may be losing sight of the suffering that blacks have endured across the nation. Bush said"The era of rampant lynching is a shameful chapter in American history.'' He said the that a noose"is not a symbol of prairie justice, but of gross injustice.'' He said displaying one is"not a harmless prank'' and"lynching is not a word to be mentioned in jest.''