Summary
A civil rights group called JULIAN has reported 70 instances of what they call "modern-day lynchings" across seven Southern U.S. states from 2000 to 2025, suggesting that some deaths of Black individuals may be incorrectly labeled as suicides or accidents. The report highlights the ongoing racial violence and the need for thorough investigations into these deaths.
Key Facts
- JULIAN is a civil rights group based in Mississippi.
- The report, called The Crimson Record, covers seven states: Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi.
- Mississippi reported the most cases, with 20 incidents.
- The report covers incidents from 2000 to 2025, totaling 70 cases, with a potential for more when including suspicious deaths.
- Families and advocates argue that misclassifying these deaths as suicides can hinder justice.
- High-profile cases mentioned include Jermaine Carter in 2010 and Rodney Thompson in 2009, both ruled as suicides.
- In March 2022, the Emmett Till Antilynching Act was signed, making lynching a federal hate crime.
- Societal patterns suggest that although the form of violence changes, racial violence continues in different forms over time.
