Piedmont Park, located in Midtown Atlanta.
Reports of a Black body found hanged in a tree at Atlanta’s Piedmont Park began circulating on social media early Thursday morning.
Amid recent high-profile incidents of violence against African-American men, many were quick to deem the tragedy a “modern day lynching.” But spokesman for the Atlanta Police Department, Donald Hannah, said it’s nothing of the sort.
According to authorities, the person found was the victim of an apparent suicide. Atlanta PD told Atlanta Black Star via Twitter that officers were called to the Charles Allen entrance of the park just before 5 o’clock Thursday morning when they discovered a man’s body hanging from a tree by a rope. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“There were no discernible signs of a struggle or foul play,” Hannah said. “A Fulton County medical examiner concurred that the death was consistent with a suicide.”
According to a direct message from Atlanta PD’s official Twitter account, the individual found hanged was an African-American male, aged 25-35.
Medical examiner “Hagar assumed custody of the unidentified body,” the message stated. “Atlanta Crime Scene Unit L. Robertson photographed the scene. Final cause and manner of death are pending autopsy.”
Although officials have ruled the man’s death a suicide, Black Twitter isn’t buying it.
Many users took to the Twittersphere to express their outrage over the continued violence against Black bodies. Citing the Ku Klux Klan’s recent efforts of restoration, some have even speculated that this “modern day lynching” was their doing. Piedmont Park is also a known meet-up spot for the infamous hate group.
7 days later… #staywoke #piedmontparkhanging pic.twitter.com/qMOTa9lr87
— IG: Slim.Richess (@1Flawless_Boss) July 7, 2016
A MAN HAS BEEN LYNCHED IN A POPULAR KKK MEETUP AREA & THEY WANNA SAY IT WAS A SUICIDE? I'M SO SICK & TIRED RIGHT NOW #PiedmontParkHanging
— Real Tweets™ (@iKeepItTooReal) July 7, 2016
The KKK announces its comeback and 3 horrifying events happen within 2 days ?? #PiedmontParkHanging
— joc (@jaaymaama) July 7, 2016
Is it 2016 or 1916?#PiedmontParkHanging
— Ä (@HeyyyAshley) July 7, 2016
Lets give a big round applause 4 the white girls who wanted the 50's/60's back. You got ur wish #PiedmontParkHanging pic.twitter.com/JTpf7556rM
— Mehoy Minoy (@Jaylive212) July 7, 2016
Who really goes into a park to hang themselves from a tree? Sounds more like a lynching. #PiedmontParkHanging
— ❤Model_Leseana F.S.❤ (@Leseana_Freeman) July 7, 2016
As of now, the victim remains unnamed.
Only problem is, it's happening in the north, too. The Minnesota shooting was also a lynching, even more flagrant than the one in Louisiana.
Wake up, sister…
Medical examiner has already said no struggle or njuries on the body and it looks like a suicide. Smart move thepolice turning it over to the FBI to get to the bottom of it. And the idiots tweeting and face booking that this was a KKK lynching need to shut up. This is exactly what causes things to turn bad and innocent people to get hurt!
Medical examiner “Hagar assumed custody of the unidentified body,” the message stated. “Atlanta Crime Scene Unit L. Robertson photographed the scene. Final cause and manner of death are pending autopsy.”
An initial investigastion determined this, as in no major bruisis, cuts, or gunshot wounds. Does not mean there is a lack of internal damage and bleeding. You are the only one spewing incorrect information here you nasty old bitty!
Drew Dixon her information isn't "incorrect" she is 100% right, there's no evidence of a lynching yet. All she's saying is "let them conclude the investigation first". You wanna insult this woman but pay no attention to the misinformation in the TITLE OF THE ARTICLE? THIS HAS NOT BEEN RULED A SUICIDE…. IT IS STILL AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION
Guess what…. they're racist up north too. They may be more racist than they are in the south, NYC made it legal to racially profile ppl and y'all still think it's less racist up north? lol
Suicide can only be plausible if no sedatives / etcare found in this man's body; full tox /toxicology screens can take up to several weeks. If this victim had been sedated hanging him would be effected with no struggle from him. At a minimum the Atlanta PD knows this very well, and therefore this determination of suicide, based on the reputed absence of "signs of struggle" is at best premature
Seriously? The Klan lynched somebody in Piedmont Park? Never mind the evidence left on his clothes and hands. Never mind that anyone involved with such an act would face a federal death penalty sentence. Seriously, do you think that the most progressive city in the South would try to cover up for the Klan? Seriously, get a grip!
John Grimmett the cop was Hispanic.