By Cash Michaels
Contributing Writer
North Carolina Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC-12) is a primary co-signer of a Sept. 8th letter by Massachusetts Democratic Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and approximately 60 other members of Congress, to U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel, requesting an investigation into a troubling “series of deaths” by hanging of Black people across the country in recent weeks. The deaths “ raise significant suspicion of foul play even the role of lynching in our nation’s history," their letter stated.
“Therefore, we write to urgently demand a thorough, transparent, and comprehensive federal investigation into every hanging death of a Black individual across the United States.,” the letter continued.
The official congressional request for a federal investigation is particularly
important to North Carolina given a tragic mid-August incident in downtown Raleigh where the body of a 32-year-old Black man was found hanging from a tree in a parking lot. Raleigh police later determined from cameras in the area that the victim actually committed suicide.
Reportedly, the victim’s mother described her son as struggling with mental problems that likely led to the suicide. There was no evidence of a criminal act involved, authorities said.
Still, a federal investigation would confirm that local police finding.
Then, there is the August 26th death by hanging in Roanoke Rapids of Demetrius Eugene Fleming, 38, and father of nine. At press time, local authorities were still investigating. Fleming’s body was found in his home. His obituary called him a man who was close to his church, and was fond of music.
Rep. Adams “…has expressed deep concern regarding the recent incidents of Black hangings, labeling them as acts of racial violence and a stark reminder of America's history of racism. She emphasizes the need for justice and accountability in addressing these heinous acts.”
“The growing number of Black people found hanging in public is a national crisis,” Rep. Pressley’s letter continued. “A recent report documented more than 70 modern-day lynchings in the United States between 2000 and 2025. In 2026 alone, there have already been at least 10 reported hangings of Black people. They were as young as 18 years old and lived in different parts of the country, including Mississippi, Michigan, and New York. Each of their deaths should be treated with the utmost seriousness and investigated without bias by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).”
“We know there is a long history of neglecting to prevent or investigate deaths of Black individuals," Pressley’s congressional letter continued. “For decades, the DOJ and FBI ignored widespread lynchings which motivated more killings. Inaction by the federal government is tantamount to complicity. This is part of the legacy of racial terror in the United States, and this neglect has long-term consequences. Not only are innocent lives lost, but lynching inflicts deep traumatic and psychological wounds on family members, neighbors, and the entire Black community.”
Rep. Presley reminded both AG Blanche and Director Patel that her’s was not just a simple request from several concerned members of Congress, but in fact, federal law.
“Congress enacted the Emmett Till Antilynching Act in 2022 to ensure the DOJ and FBI are empowered to fully investigate suspicious deaths and hold individuals accountable. It is incumbent upon you to do just that. At a minimum, each federal investigation, with permission of the decedents’ families, should include an independent autopsy, an audit of local and state law enforcement investigations, review of physical and testimonial evidence, and a final report submitted to Congress explaining the agency’s findings. Additionally, there must be robust data collection that tracks the hanging deaths of Black people in a transparent and systematic manner.”
Rep. Presley concluded her letter with, “We would appreciate the opportunity for our offices to connect with your teams at regular, scheduled intervals to share updates, feedback, and concerns from the broader community, as appropriate.”
At press time, there was no response from either DOJ or the FBI to Rep. Pressley’s request for a federal investigation into recent Black hanging incidents.
