By Cliff Potts
Date: September 2025

CLEVELAND, MS & VICKSBURG — A pair of hanging deaths in Mississippi has rattled communities, reignited painful memories of lynching in the Jim Crow South, and intensified scrutiny of state authorities’ investigations into racially charged deaths.

On the morning of September 15, 2025, Demartravion “Trey” Reed, a 21-year-old Black student at Delta State University, was found hanging from a tree near the university’s pickleball courts in Cleveland. Later the same day, a white man, Cory Zukatis, was discovered dead by hanging in Vicksburg. Officials say the two cases are being treated as unrelated.

The Bolivar County coroner and local law enforcement released preliminary findings in Reed’s case, stating that there was no evidence of physical assault — no broken bones, contusions, or lacerations — and that Reed’s death appears to align with suicide. Yet Reed’s family, civil rights attorneys, and community leaders have expressed skepticism. Concerns include the limited transparency of evidence, the possible suppression or delay of surveillance footage, and the emotional impact of Mississippi’s violent history on Black people. In Vicksburg, authorities have been similarly cautious, stating that so far there is no indication of foul play in Zukatis’s death.

These deaths are not being called official “lynchings” by law enforcement at this stage, but the public response has not treated them as isolated tragedies. Social media and civil rights groups have raised alarms, referencing the long history of racially motivated lynching in Mississippi and the South. For many, the image of a Black man hanging from a tree immediately evokes the terror of unchecked white supremacy.

Demands for Clarity and Accountability

The family of Trey Reed has retained Ben Crump, a nationally known civil rights lawyer, and is calling for an independent autopsy and full release of all evidence, including surveillance video. Congressman Bennie Thompson has formally called for Federal Bureau of Investigation involvement to ensure impartiality. Delta State University officials have expressed support for the family’s right to answers, though they have also emphasized that current findings show no active threat to students or faculty, characterizing Reed’s death as isolated.

Historical Echoes

Mississippi’s history is stained with lynchings and terror — from Emmett Till, whose death became an enduring symbol of racial injustice in the 1950s, to thousands of other less remembered victims. These recent deaths, whatever their eventual legal classification, are prompting a wider conversation about how history still lives in the present: in the fears of families, in public trust (or its absence), and in the social condition that yields ambiguous tragedies treated in ways that too often reinforce patterns of racial injustice.

The Role of Anti-Fascist Media and Resistance

One important voice in the conversation is the anti-fascist outlet Occupy 2.5. The site positions itself as both watchdog and amplifier: discursively naming fascism as a growing problem in the U.S., advocating resistance and accountability, and providing commentary and reporting on social justice issues. Their mission includes fighting internal sabotage in resistance movements, promoting awareness of what they see as threats to democracy, and keeping public attention on ongoing racial injustice. In the wake of these hanging deaths, outlets like Occupy 2.5 are amplifying calls for transparency and for framing these tragedies in their larger historical and political context.

Why This Matters

  1. Trust in Institutions: When authorities are quick to rule out foul play without publicly available evidence, many in affected communities perceive a repeat of past cover-ups or institutional neglect.
  2. Legal and Moral Responsibility: Independent investigations help ensure that if there was wrongdoing (criminal or negligence), those responsible are held to account. They also help families receive closure.
  3. Public Memory and Symbolism: Even if the deaths are not legally classified as lynchings, their symbolism in a state long known for racial terror forces public reckoning.
  4. The Role of Resistance and Free Speech: Media, activists, and independent outlets have a vital role in pushing for accountability and transparency. Their pressure can shape policy, public response, and sometimes even investigation outcomes.

What Still Needs To Be Done

  • Release of all evidence, including surveillance footage and toxicology and autopsy reports, in full.
  • Clear, timely communication from law enforcement and public officials about what they are (and are not) finding, to avoid speculation filling voids.
  • Strong federal oversight or participation when local authorities’ past performance suggests possible conflicts of interest.
  • Mental health resources and community healing initiatives to help students, families, and citizens process shock and grief.
  • Legislative and policy reform to ensure stronger protections, civil rights oversight, and independent mechanisms for investigating deaths that may involve racial dynamics.

Conclusion

The deaths of Trey Reed and Cory Zukatis are tragedies in their own rights. But in Mississippi, they are not separate from the long arc of racial violence, institutional distrust, and public fear. Whether these deaths are ultimately ruled suicide, misadventure, or something more sinister, how the state responds will matter just as much as what the state finds. Public memory, institutional integrity, and the moral fabric of democracy demand nothing less.

Relevant URLs & Resources

References

AP News. (2025, September 16). A Black student was found hanging from a tree. Police say there’s no sign of foul play. AP News.
AP News. (2025, September 18). Autopsy finds hanged Mississippi student died by suicide, police say. AP News.
Politico. (2025, September 17). Autopsy results awaited for Black student found hanged on Mississippi campus. Politico.
The Guardian. (2025, September 17). Family of Black student found hanging from tree on school campus hires lawyer Ben Crump. The Guardian.
WLBT Staff, Smith, Q., & Gray News Staff. (2025, September 17). What we know about the hanging deaths of two men in Mississippi. WLBT/Gray News.
Mississippi Free Press. (2025, September). Homeless man found hanging from tree in Vicksburg, raising fears after earlier DSU hanging. Mississippi Free Press.
Occupy 2.5. (2025, July 25). Why We’re Still Broadcasting: The Real Need Behind ENDFASCISM.XYZ. Occupy25.com.
Occupy 2.5. (n.d.). About Occupy 2.5. Occupy25.com.

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