In September 2025,
two men were discovered lifeless and hung from trees in Mississippi. While they were located in different towns, the incidents both happened
within hours of each other.
Given the state's long and gruesome history of lynchings as a way to enforce terror and oppression, these hangings must be investigated thoroughly. Sign the petition!Demartravion "Trey" Reed was
only 21 years old and a student at Delta State University. Authorities have said
there are videos of the young Black student's death, but they are keeping those contents quiet. Instead, local officials have
claimed that Reed supposedly died by suicide, disputing the notion that there could be evidence of 'foul play.'
Cory Zukatis was 36 years old. He was found in a forest and already his case is being met with
dismissive tones by referencing the difficulties he faced in life, including homelessness. Similarly, authorities have denied signs of foul play in his death. While Zukatis is white, his plight also reminds us of
the cruelties inflicted on unhoused persons who actually need support.
The fact that these hangings were discovered on the same day reminds us of
the horrors that have been inflicted, especially on Black people, in the southern U.S. states for generations.The NAACP
posted: "While initial reports offered no evidence of 'foul play', you'd have to
excuse our skepticism amidst growing racially motivated violence targeted at our communities across this nation. So while we await more formal autopsy reports and information, we offer this piece of history with a level of certainty:
Our people have not historically hung ourselves from trees..."
Reed's family has hired civil rights attorney Ben Crump to push for an independent autopsy and full investigation, while Congressman Bennie Thompson from Mississippi is urging the FBI to investigate.
We must amplify their calls!Sign the petition to demand a full investigation, including by the FBI, to determine the truth!