Photos of six slain Black people were found hanging from a tree in Milwaukee’s Riverside Park over the weekend — four of the pictures showed victims of police brutality.
According to KMBC News, laminated images of Ahmaud Arbery, Botham Jean, Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner, Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin were found tied to nooses on Saturday.
Someone hung the photos of 6 Black victims of violence by nooses from a tree in Milwaukee@Juicytalkradio
pic.twitter.com/xjLQEEX1Kz— Juicy Talk Radio (@Juicytalk2020) June 23, 2020
Members of the Original Black Panthers discovered the photos and removed them Saturday evening. The Panthers called the photos racist and said the person responsible committed an intolerable and unacceptable act, per KMBC.
"Historically, African Americans have been hung and lynched. I don't care what anybody says, they can justify it all they want to. It was disrespectful not only to the memories of these individuals, our beloved individuals, but also to the African American community, so I'm not hearing it," activist King Rick said.
As Blavity previously reported, several Black people have been found hanging from trees in recent weeks.
In New York City, the body of Bronx resident Dominique Alexander was found on a path in Fort Tryon Park on June 9. The medical examiner ruled his death a “suicide by hanging,” but the New York Police Department said an investigation is ongoing.
A day earlier, 24-year-old Robert Fuller was found hanging from a tree in the early morning hours near Palmdale City Hall in California. Fuller’s death has also been ruled a suicide, but his family has refuted claims that he would take his own life.
“My brother was not suicidal. My brother was a survivor,” Diamond Alexander said according to the Los Angeles Times.
While local authorities are searching for the witness who originally discovered Fuller's body, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said his office will be sending independent investigators to review Fuller's case with the power to conduct their own investigation dependent on their findings.
About 50 miles away, Malcolm Harsch was found hanging near an encampment in Victorville for people experiencing homelessness, where he was staying, on May 31. Harsch’s death was ruled a suicide, but his sister is still seeking answers.
“We are really just trying to get more answers as to what happened.” Harmonie Harsch, 29, told The New York Times. “My brother was so loving, not only to his family but even strangers. It is not like him.”
Victorville Mayor Gloria Garcia said that her office is taking community concerns about Harsch’s death seriously and that a thorough investigation is taking place.
“We take very seriously the concerns voiced by so many who fear that Malcolm’s death could be racially motivated, a hate crime, or a form of retaliation,” Mayor Garcia said according to the Daily Press. “As City Leaders, we share these concerns; and a thorough investigation is being conducted. Malcolm Harsch’s life matters to our City.”
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division and the FBI are all working to review both Fuller and Harsch’s cases, as Blavity previously reported.
