Black doll hung from noose at NC school alongside Trump-inspired protest of black principal

Vandals hung a black doll from a noose at a North Carolina high school and called for a white principal's return in a banner evoking President Donald Trump's campaign slogan.

A black Santa Claus doll was hung by the neck from a rope draped from the rooftop of Wakefield High School in Raleigh, along with a white sheet spray-painted with the words, "Make Wakefield Tripp again #smartlunch," reported The News & Observer.

The sign apparently referred to former principal Tripp Crayton, who is white and was replaced in 2015 by principal Malik Bazzell, who is black.

"Let me be clear: This was an offensive act that has no place in our school," Bazzell said in the statement. “The imagery is deeply offensive and everyone in our school community should be appalled."

Bazzell angered students by suspendingSMART Lunch -- a 55-minute period in the afternoon that allowed students to make up work, socialize or leave campus to eat under certain conditions -- due to alleged misbehavior.

The doll was hung overnight Monday or early Tuesday, and a number of students saw the display and circulated photos on social media.

The school's football stadium and baseball field were also damaged in the incident.

Bazzell said criminal charges would be sought in the incident, which remains under investigation by police and officials for Wake County schools.

"It is in no way funny," Bazzell said. "It is not a prank."

The school district has experienced a series of racially charged incidents during recent months, including a student's Snapchat post late last month referring to classmates as slaves.

Wakefield High is 47 percent white, 30 percent black and 14 percent Hispanic.