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Shontel Brown faces backlash after urging a federal probe into deaths of Black people found hanging
The Ohio congresswoman joined Ayanna Pressley’s push for a Justice Department investigation into such cases nationwide. Fox News Digital reported that several recent deaths were ruled suicides by local authorities.
Democratic Rep. Shontel Brown of Ohio drew backlash after saying on X that there had been an alarming increase in Black Americans found dead hanging from trees in the United States and after announcing that she had joined Ayanna Pressley in calling for a federal investigation into possible lynchings.
According to Fox News Digital, Brown’s remarks followed a letter from Pressley to the Justice Department seeking a thorough, transparent and comprehensive federal investigation into every hanging death of a Black individual across the country. Last week, Pressley and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez promoted that demand on X, prompting criticism and challenges to the suggestion that lynchings were increasing.
Fox News Digital reviewed several recent high-profile cases. In Cobb County, Georgia, an investigation into the March death of a 21-year-old man found hanging from a tree concluded that he was alone and that no foul play was suspected. In Charlotte, North Carolina, police said a 16-year-old found hanging from a tree in May died by suicide. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Department in Florida reached the same conclusion in a similar June death involving a 27-year-old.
The outlet added that at least three other similar cases were also ruled suicides, while one remains under investigation. At the same time, it reported that the case of Tasia Fortune, who was also found hanging from a tree, is being treated as a homicide and that a suspect, Jarques Ratliff, has been arrested.
In a video attached to her post, Brown said trees had been used for generations as instruments of terror against Black Americans and argued that when Black people are found hanging from trees today, in unfamiliar places and under circumstances that raise serious questions, the issue cannot be ignored.
Fox News Digital said Brown then faced heavy criticism online. Among those cited by the outlet were actor Dean Cain, popular X users, podcasters and author Dan Friedman. The publication also said Brown’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Sources
About this piece. Written by El Notero with AI assistance, from reporting published by the outlet cited above. El Notero did no original reporting on this story.
