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A worker found a noose at a Benson High School construction site on Saturday. It is the second one discovered on an Andersen Construction jobsite in the past 26 months.

The noose was discovered at around 9:45 a.m. by a trade partner of Andersen’s, said Brian Knudson, Andersen Construction’s regional vice president.

鈥淚t is with a heavy heart, extreme disappointment and hurt that we are reporting the discovery of a noose on our Benson High School jobsite Saturday, Aug. 13,鈥� the company said in a statement. 鈥淭he tradepartner immediately notified Andersen Construction. The scene was secured, Portland Police Bureau was notified and responded at 11:15 am. The FBI has been notified also.鈥�

It is at least the second noose to be found on an Andersen Construction job since May 2020. The first was discovered at the Vanport Building (previously 4^th and Montgomery) site in downtown Portland. When the noose was found it was not until 20 days later that Andersen executives became aware of the incident — a Facebook post by an employee of another subcontractor notified them of it.

The incident launched the Safe from Hate initiative, a campaign to fight hate crimes and racial bias in the construction industry. Many of Portland’s industry executives, firms and groups have signed on to it 鈥� including Andersen Construction, which helped organize the effort.

Monday morning, Andersen Construction held a 鈥渟tand down鈥� at the Benson jobsite. Knudson said they gathered everyone on the site to make all aware of the situation and what options are available for support. A leaflet was distributed with a QR code and a hotline number where people can provide information anonymously.

Andersen is also offering a $10,000 reward to anyone who comes forward with information that leads to the identification of the person or people who committed the act.

鈥淲e want to show that this is very important to us so we can stop this,鈥� Knudson said.

Benson Tech is one of the most diverse high schools in Portland and largest with 鈥渆qual numbers of white, Latino, African-American, and Asian American students,鈥� Portland Public Schools says on its website.

The 100-year-old school is receiving a seismic retrofit and modernization. Crews broke ground in August 2021 and completion is expected in fall 2024.