Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., are among approximately 50 Democrats urging the Department of Justice and the FBI to conduct a comprehensive federal investigation into the hanging deaths of Black Americans. The lawmakers allege that these incidents represent "racial terror" and "widespread modern-day lynchings."
In a letter spearheaded by Pressley and signed by Ocasio-Cortez, the representatives called for a "thorough, transparent, and comprehensive federal investigation into every hanging death of a Black individual across the United States." They contend that federal agencies have historically failed to adequately investigate such cases.
Ocasio-Cortez shared the letter on social media platform X, stating, "This year, there have already been 10 reported hangings of Black people in the U.S. I’m proud to have signed onto Rep. Pressley’s letter to address these widespread modern-day lynchings and put a stop to this racial terror."
Pressley's letter invoked the phrase "strange fruit," a reference to the 1939 Billie Holiday song about the lynching of Black Americans. She warned that "Black folks are being found hanged in America" and insisted, "We cannot stand by while strange fruit hangs from trees across the country."
However, official findings in several recent cases have ruled the deaths suicides. For instance, the death of a 21-year-old man in Atlanta who was found hanging from a tree in a park was ruled a suicide by officials who found no evidence of foul play. Similarly, Demartravion Reed, a Delta State University student, was found to have died by hanging, with the manner of death determined to be suicide. The death of Earl Smith in Albany, N.Y., was also ruled a suicide by the Albany Police Department, which stated there was no evidence of criminal activity.
A preliminary investigation into the death of a man in Brookfield, Wisconsin, also indicated suicide, according to the local police chief. These rulings contrast with the lawmakers' characterization of the events.
X's crowdsourced Community Notes feature highlighted law enforcement and medical examiner findings in these cases, pointing out that most prominent hanging deaths identified in 2025 and 2026 had been ruled suicides. At least one case, the hanging death of Tasia Fortune in Jackson, Mississippi, remains under homicide investigation, with authorities questioning and arresting the father of one of her children on unrelated weapons charges.
The lawmakers' claims have drawn criticism online. Some social media users questioned the politicians' use of terms like "modern-day lynchings" when most cases were determined to be suicides. Critics argued for accuracy in describing events, especially on social media, while others pointed to the lack of evidence of racial motivation in the documented suicide cases.