New Black Panther Party Arrives in Jackson After Hanging Deaths

Members of the New Black Panther Party arrived in Jackson, Mississippi, Saturday as recent hanging deaths continue to generate national attention and questions about what happened.

The group’s arrival comes after Jackson police announced an arrest in the death of 29 year old Tasia Fortune, whose body was discovered hanging from a tree behind a vacant home in west Jackson on August 3. The Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled Fortune’s death a homicide.

Police arrested 51 year old Jarques Ratliff on a murder charge in connection with Fortune’s death. Investigators say Ratliff knew Fortune, although authorities have not publicly disclosed the nature of their relationship or announced a motive.

Investigators have interviewed nearly 15 people, collected forensic evidence and executed multiple warrants. Police have also indicated that additional arrests are expected as the investigation continues.

Fortune’s death has led some activists to describe the case as a lynching, but authorities have not announced evidence showing that her killing was racially motivated. Fortune’s mother has said she believes her daughter was murdered but does not believe race was the motive.

The case comes less than a year after 21 year old Demartravion “Trey” Reed was found hanging from a tree on the campus of Delta State University. Reed’s death generated widespread speculation and calls for further investigation, but authorities ultimately ruled his death a suicide and reported finding no evidence of foul play.

Another man, Cory Zukatis, was found hanging in a wooded area in Vicksburg around the same period. His death was also ruled a suicide.

The image of someone hanging from a tree carries enormous historical weight, particularly in Mississippi, and the circumstances surrounding these deaths have fueled questions and national attention. However, there remains an important distinction between questioning the circumstances of a death and declaring it a lynching before investigators establish evidence supporting that conclusion.

What is confirmed in Fortune’s case is significant. Her death has officially been ruled a homicide, one man has been charged with murder and police expect additional arrests. Whether race played any role in her killing has not been established.

With members of the New Black Panther Party now in Jackson and attention surrounding the case continuing to grow, scrutiny of the investigation is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

TRH News will continue following the case as additional information becomes available.