Exxon Mobil confirmed some disturbing news Tuesday: On separate occasions in the past three days, a noose has been found hanging from scaffolding at the Baytown refinery.

But what they don’t know is who was behind the acts, or why they did it.

“Anytime I hear of any incident like this I’m surprised, concerned, upset by it,” Dena Marks of the Anti-Defamation League said.  “It is a symbol of hatred and a symbol of racism.”

But the Anti-Defamation League says companies and corporations should be concerned and upset as well – for legal reasons.

Just last month, four contract workers were fired from their jobs at FMC Technologies in Houston after two different incidents of nooses being hung on the job.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently settled cases with companies in Alabama and Pennsylvania to the tune of a million dollars for nooses found at plants there.

And Conroe saw a million-dollar suit last year after coworkers physically choked Charles Hickman with a noose in a company bathroom.

“They need to be concerned about it because it’s a sign of intimidation and racism, and nobody wants that in their workplace,” Marks said.

Exxon Mobile released a statement on the incidents late Tuesday afternoon.

“These actions are completely unacceptable, and we are investigating this matter.  These actions violate Exxon Mobil’s Harassment in the Workplace Policy which prohibits any form of harassment in the company workplace. The objective of this policy is to provide a work environment that fosters mutual employee respect and working relationships free of harassment. Harassment will not be tolerated, and Exxon Mobil is taking prompt action to address this matter,” the statement read.