Two hangings in Mississippi: Nationwide calls for transparency

By Alice Thomas-Tisdale

JA Publisher Emerita

Early Monday morning (Sept. 15th), the body of 21-year-old Demartravion “Trey” Reed, a Black male, was found hanging from a tree in the middle of his college campus at Delta State University in Cleveland, MS. Later that day, 100 miles away in Vicksburg, MS, the body of 36-year-old Cory Zukatis, a white male, was found hanging in a tree in a wooded area. 

By late afternoon, “suicide” and “no foul play” were mentioned. Investigations of these deaths have not yet been completed.

By Monday evening, some protests occurred across the state and nation. 

On Tuesday, Mississippi State University students held a candlelight vigil for Reed. Prior to the vigil, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who was called to represent the Reed family, flew in for a press conference demanding transparency.

Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), representing both Cleveland and Vicksburg, released a statement stressing the importance of federal involvement to ensure full and impartial investigation. He stated: “The FBI has the tools and experience necessary to conduct a thorough, unbiased inquiry, and time is of the essence.”

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) issued a press release stating: “We are deeply saddened by the recent tragedies where individuals were found hanging in Mississippi. One took the life of a young, Black man and the other of a man experiencing homelessness. … The imagery of these two deaths immediately evokes the collective consciousness of those who are deeply aware of Mississippi’s troubled past. These events remind us how inequity continues to endanger lives. By committing to a thorough investigation and providing transparency around these tragedies, local leaders and law enforcement can bring a deeper sense of peace and comfort during a time of tragedy.”