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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Jon Gunn has lived in Plaza Midwood for 15 years. He's a fan of decorating his home for Halloween, but said the display that popped up in his neighbor's yard a few days ago is unacceptable.
"I just found it really offensive," said Gunn.
Hanging from a noose in a backyard tree at the house next door is a stuffed body with a photo of President Barack Obama's face as the head.
"No matter your political persuasion, this is just way over the edge of good taste," said Gunn. "I think anyone would take offense to that because it represents lynching. And since it's the President, doubly so."
Gunn said, for him, it was even more upsetting because his children asked why the President was hanging from the neighbor's tree.
"Explaining lynching to an 11 and 9-year-old was something we just didn't expect to be doing that at that age. This shouldn't be what prompts us to talk to our kids about this," he said.
The display is in the backyard, not front. However, it is visible from a public access point into the neighborhood.
NBC Charlotte tried to contact the people who live at the house, but did not get in touch with them Tuesday.
Gunn said he and other people on the street want the display taken down. He said, for him, it is about more than politics.
"At some point you say, 'It's an election. I vote. I volunteer. I certainly don't put out a replica of the President with a noose around his neck.'"
For now, Gunn said he will take a page from President Obama and try to use this as a teachable moment for his children.
"I guess it sort of drives the point home that, here's the history of this, you're seeing it. Potentially racism is alive and you shouldn't ignore it if you see it," he said.
Many viewers have asked if this is simply a person exercising their First Amendment rights or a threat against the President. NBC Charlotte did contact the United States Secret Service to get its take on the display. At this time, it has not responded.
