Why Eyes On Mississippi Hangings/Drownings/Burning?

In September 2025, a group of student athletes found 18-year-old Delta State University student Trey Reed, who was Black, hanging from a tree on the campus in Cleveland, Mississippi. Of course, a Black person found hung in a state HISTORICALLY known for hanging Black people will raise an eyebrow. This case did just that. There was an outcry from the Black Community saying in unison, "Black people don't hang themselves!"

In 2026, the high-profile and publicly scrutinized case of a suspicious tree hanging in Mississippi involves Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old Black woman found dead on August 3, 2026, in Jackson, MS. Her death has drawn widespread attention alongside previous recent cases, renewing intense community and media concern regarding how authorities investigate these incidents. As you can guess, this hanging added to the fuel of a racially politicized and divided country our president and Republicans seem to insist upon. 

When the latest deaths of Black people are grouped together, suspicion grows. Tasia Fortune: Found hanging behind a vacant home on the Road of Remembrance in Jackson, MS; the investigation by the Jackson Police Department and the state medical examiner remains active. Demartravion “Trey” Reed: An 18-to-21-year-old Delta State University student found hanging from a tree on campus in September 2025, which local police ruled a suicide despite family doubts and calls for independent oversight. Cory Zukatis: An unhoused man found hanging in a tree in Vicksburg, MS, on the same day in September 2025, which was ruled a suicide by the Mississippi State Medical Examiner. 

Civil rights groups and reports have highlighted historical and regional patterns, pointing to multiple disputed hanging and drowning death investigations across the state over recent years that families and activists continue to question. Miss Fortune's death comes on the heels of an ongoing, racially charged, suspicious death of another young Black Mississippian, Nolan Wells. 

Since the Trey Reed death in September 2025, 13 more Black people have died under disputed circumstances, in hangings and drownings from Mississippi to Wisconsin to North Carolina to the nation’s capital From Trees to Water, Same Questions. Two of the most recent cases, an 18-year-old football player pulled from the Gulf of Mexico and a Dallas teenager left at the bottom of a lake, share a detail. Both young Black men went swimming or fishing with white companions and did not come home, as with Nolan Wells.

Wells traveled by boat to Horn Island, a barrier island inside the Gulf Islands National Seashore, in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, on the afternoon of July 4 with a group of friends, some of them white, to celebrate Independence Day, authorities said. He never made it back to the mainland. His mother reported him missing that night. A park ranger found his body in the water off the island’s northwest shore two days later.

The Wells family disputes that Nolan, described by his father, Elmore Wonsley, as a strong swimmer, would have drowned there. Crump said the family commissioned an independent autopsy in Washington, D.C., funded by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who also paid for a second autopsy in Reed’s case. Sharpton questioned the racial dynamics of the case. “He was one Black teen with three young white men who happened to end up with his phone,” he told reporters. “There’s just too many questions.” 

The Congressional Black Caucus has expressed similar frustration and highlighted a lack of transparency. On Monday August 10, its members wrote a letter to U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel to ask for a federal review of Wells’ death. “The lack of answers thus far continues to fuel speculation and grief,” the letter states. “Neither the Wells family nor the public should be left to fill an information vacuum with speculation.” Blanche and Patel were asked to respond within a week, U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath of Georgia said at the Thursday, August 13, news conference. 

White Mississippians are also angry. Most are angry at Mississippi being called a racist state in 2026. There are hundreds of online posts testifying to the great relations between Blacks and Whites. Silence does NOT mean the ABSENCE of and yes, Mississippi continues to need watching. The election of Donald Trump has made many comfortable with racism. It is no longer behind closed doors. Our president puts racism on full display almost daily. The reaction of the Bible Belt states seems to be, "We've been waiting on this forever," no matter what their mouths may say.

Views on racism among white people in Mississippi are mixed. While some white political leaders and residents deny the existence of SYSTEMATIC racism, others acknowledge ongoing racial disparities, and opinions vary widely across different communities, generations, and regions of the state. Mississippi does not register voters by political party, but statewide voting patterns and polls show that roughly 52% to 58% of the electorate leans Republican. In recent presidential elections, the Republican nominee consistently wins around 58% of the vote. 

Donald Trump received 60.9% of the vote in Mississippi. Trump State Approval: Polling indicates around 49% approval and 46% disapproval for Trump in Mississippi. Republican Base Context: National tracking shows roughly 55%–65% of active Republicans embrace the explicit "MAGA" identifier, rather than just the broader party label. 

 Perspectives Denying or Minimizing Systemic Racism

Political rhetoric: Prominent state figures, including Governor Tate Reeves, have publicly asserted that systemic racism does not exist in Mississippi or the United States. 
Focus on progress: Many conservative residents argue that the state has moved past its Jim Crow history, emphasizing interpersonal southern hospitality, economic modernization, and integrated communities as proof that modern racism is rare or exaggerated. 
Individual vs. systemic view: A common perspective among many white conservatives attributes remaining social or economic disparities to individual choices rather than historical or institutional structure.

While there is no exact real-time census tracking every individual belief, broad national and statewide public opinion data indicates that an overwhelming majority—typically around 80% to 85%—of Black adults in Mississippi and across the U.S. believe that racism remains widespread and persistent. Comprehensive polling from organizations like Gallup routinely shows that roughly 83% of Black Americans view racism against Black people as a prevalent, systemic issue.

Upon taking office in 2025, Trump began his immediate attack on Black America. If you have been living in America for the past year, you know all of the attacks Black America has endured and continues to endure under this administration. RACISM is alive and well in MISSISSIPPI because it never went anywhere.

This makes unexplainable deaths of Black people in Mississippi suspect. The racist history never ended. The latest two deaths, by hanging and drowning, hit the Black community a little harder these days knowing the rising racial temperature happening in America. It appears SOMEONE needs to keep an eye on MISSISSIPPI. The OUTRIGHT denial of RACISM by White Mississippians is not helping this problem. Either there IS a problem or there isn't a problem. We ARE Mississippi burning right about now with all of this undercurrent of racial mistrust.

Raynard Johnson, 17

June 16, 2000

Raynard Johnson was found hanging from a pecan tree in his front yard in Kokomo, Miss. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation called the hanging a suicide, according to records. But his family believes Johnson was lynched, Jefferson said.

In 2000, the Rev. Jesse Jackson traveled to Mississippi to call attention to Johnson’s hanging.

Nick Naylor, 23

Jan. 9, 2003

Three years later, Nick Naylor, 23, was found hanging from a tree about 11 miles from his house in Porterville, Miss. A dog chain was wrapped around his neck. Police ruled the death a suicide, but an attorney for the family said it was a lynching.

“Every time someone loses their life in a hate crime, it opens up the wound,” said Lequicha Naylor, 43, Naylor’s sister. “We have no closure. His killers are probably still around here, walking around. I have little Black boys. I’ve got grand boys — kids walking around the same place where my brother got hung. And we had tell them what happened for their own protection. One thing we always wonder is what they did to him before he died.”

Roy Veal, 55

April 22, 2004

A year later, Roy Veal, was found hanging from a pecan tree near Woodville, Miss. Relatives said Veal was found with a hood over his head. A state police spokesman told reporters Veal’s death was “consistent with suicide.” Relatives said they believed Veal, who had returned to Mississippi to fight for his family’s land, was lynched. A spokesman for the sheriff’s office in Woodville said the case is with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.

Frederick Jermaine Carter, 26

Dec. 3, 2010

Frederick Jermaine Carter was found hanging from a tree limb in a White neighborhood in Greenwood, Miss. The state medical examiner ruled Carter’s death a suicide. Relatives called it a lynching and demanded for a federal investigation.

Derrick Johnson, then-state president of the Mississippi NAACP, told reporters that the community had “lost all confidence in the ability of local law enforcement to investigate” the case of Carter’s hanging. He called on the Justice Department to investigate.

Craig Anderson, 49

June 26, 2011

One of the most graphic examples of a modern-day racial terror killing occurred on June 26, 2011, when 10 white teenagers killed 49-year-old James Craig Anderson in Jackson, Miss.

The teenagers, who according to court records, decided to “go f---k with some n-----s,” ran over Anderson in a parking lot while yelling “white power.”

That night two carloads of White teenagers drove into a motel parking lot where they spotted Anderson, according to records. Some teens jumped out of the cars and started beating Anderson, in an attack captured on a surveillance video.

In March 2012, three of the teenagers — identified as Deryl Dedmon, John Rice and Dylan Butler — pleaded guilty in federal district court to charges of conspiracy and committing a hate crime.

During a sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves connected the killing of Anderson to the state’s gruesome history of lynchings, telling the courtroom that “a toxic mix of alcohol, foolishness and unadulterated hatred caused these young people to resurrect the nightmarish specter of lynchings and lynch mobs from the Mississippi we long forget.”

Reeves said the group of White teenagers targeted Black neighborhoods in Jackson, “for the sole purpose of harassing, terrorizing, physically assaulting and causing bodily injury to Black folk.”

Otis Byrd, 54

March 19, 2015

Otis Byrd, who had been missing since March 2, 2015, was found hanging from a tree on March 19, 2015, in Port Gibson, Miss.

The Claiborne County sheriff’s office said Byrd was found with a bedsheet wrapped around his neck. Byrd had been convicted in 1980 of murder in the death of a White woman, according to the Mississippi Department of Corrections. He had been paroled in 2006.

The FBI and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division launched an investigation. In 2015, the Justice Department released a statement regarding Byrd’s death saying that investigators had found no foul play.

“After a careful and thorough review, a team of experienced federal prosecutors and FBI agents determined that there was no evidence to prove that Byrd’s death was a homicide,” the Justice Department said.

Phillip Carroll, 22

May 28, 2017

Phillip Carroll was found hanging from a tree in Jackson, Miss. Police called the death a suicide. Early reports said Carroll had been found with his hands tied behind his back. Police denied that account.

“If there’s any other information or evidence that anyone may have to make us believe that it may not be a suicide, again, we’re open to any information and any evidence to aid us in the investigation,” Jackson Police Commander Tyree Jones told reporters. “But as of right now, we don’t have anything other than the fact that his death has been ruled a suicide.”

Deondrey Montreal Hopkins, 35

May 5, 2019

Deondrey Montreal Hopkins, who lived in Columbus, Miss., was found hanging from a tree on a bank of the Luxapallila Creek. Columbus Police Chief Fred Shelton said Hopkins’s death was not a homicide.

The Justice Department declined to comment on the case.

Do Planets Have Current Event Meanings?

Did you have a chance to view the planetary lineup that occurred August 12, 2026? There are three of these alignments happening in 2026. The first was in February 28, 2026, the same day America attacked Iran in a non-declared war. The last one for 2026 will be November 14, 2026, after the mid-term elections. What chaos could possibly happen around this time? Groundwork is being laid for it right now. Will you be prepared?

If you were like me, you  didn't get up during the early morning hours to see Mercury, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Uranus, nor Neptune do their parade of planets thing. For many, the lining up of planets is more than planets appearing to be in a straight line in the heavens, it is an indication of a COSMIC shift in HUMANITY. 

2026 has already seen unusual heavenly occurrances. February 20, 2026, Saturn and Neptune conjuncted at 0 degrees at Aries, a once in a century alignment ushering in a new 36-year cycle. The Planets: Saturn (boundaries, reality, form) meeting Neptune (boundlessness, illusion, spirituality). The Sign: 0° Aries, the very first degree of the zodiac wheel, representing a powerful "world point" of absolute fresh starts and initiation. The Duration: Lasting roughly 36 years, running through 2061. The Significance: An alignment of these two specific planets at this critical zero point of Aries hasn't occurred in this configuration for over 2,000 years, signaling a major shift in collective frameworks and societal structures.

February 28, 2026, was the first planetary parade of 2026 with Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune appearing to be lined up in the sky. This planetary alignment was said to have been a collective PAUSE, heightened self-awareness, and a powerful CHECKPOINT to REALIGN personal PURPOSE with FATE. What was happening during this planetary alignment? The United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes across Iran on February 28,2026, targeting government, military, and nuclear infrastructure. Prior to this major campaign, the U.S. military also conducted direct airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites on June 22, 2025, during a brief conflict. 

The planetary parade on August 12, 2026 where Mercury, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune align, is considered as a MASSIVE cosmic RESET bringing buried TRUTHS to the surface, COLLAPSING old time lines, and RECHARGING personal intentions. What can this possibly mean?

A total eclipse on March 3, 2026, followed the parade of planets on February 28, 2026. This parade of planets, on August 12, COINCIDED with a total solar eclipse on the same day, along with the Perseid Meteor shower. August is having a very active heavenly month. Will there be an upcoming changing event like that on February 28th? Does all of this heavenly activity REALLY mean ANYTHING? How did we come to believe planetary movement can affect humans on earth? 

Early astronomers viewed planets as "wandering stars" that  moved strangely across the night sky. Ancient Greek models placed a fixed Earth at the center, while later scientists like Copernicus and Galileo proved the Sun is actually at the center.

The astrological meanings of the planets were not invented by one single person. They evolved through a blend of ancient Mesopotamian star-gazing, Greek mythological mapping, and Hellenistic synthesis. Ancient Babylonian priests first linked visible planetary movements to divine omens, and later Greek and Greco-Egyptian scholars like Claudius Ptolemy codified these traits into formal systems. Mesopotamian priests tracked the "wanderers" in the second millennium BCE. They viewed planets as living manifestations of their gods (e.g., Ishtar for Venus, Marduk for Jupiter).

Roman mythology provided the names for most planets in the solar system. Ancient Romans bestowed the names of gods and goddesses on the five planets that could be seen in the night sky with the naked eye. 

Romans named the solar system’s biggest planet, Jupiter, for the king of the Roman gods, while the reddish color of the planet Mars led them to name it after their god of war. Mercury, which makes a complete trip around the Sun in just 88 Earth days, got its name from the fast-moving messenger of the gods. Saturn, the solar system’s second-largest planet, takes 29 Earth years to make a full revolution of the Sun and was named for the god of agriculture. The Romans named the brightest planet, Venus, for their goddess of love and beauty.

Two other planets, Uranus and Neptune, were discovered after the telescope was invented in the early 1600s. Astronomer William Herschel, who is credited with discovering Uranus in 1781, wanted to call it “Georgium Sidus,” (George’s Star) for the British ruler at the time, King George III. Other astronomers were interested in dubbing the planet Herschel. It was German astronomer Johann Bode who recommended the name Uranus, a Latinized version of the Greek god of the sky, Ouranos; however, the name Uranus didn’t gain full acceptance until the mid-1800s. 

Neptune, the planet farthest from the Sun (it makes a solar revolution once every 165 years), was first seen by telescope in 1846 by German astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle, using the mathematical calculations of French astronomer Urbain Le Verrier and British astronomer John Couch Adams. There was some discussion of naming the planet after Le Verrier, but ultimately Neptune, which has a vivid blue color, got its name from the Roman god of the sea.

Pluto, which was classified as a planet in 1930 before being stripped of that celestial honor in 2006, was named after the Roman god of the underworld—thanks to the suggestion of an 11-year-old English schoolgirl named Venetia Burney. As for Earth, the planet that’s currently home to an estimated 7.3 billion people, its name comes not from Roman or Greek mythology but rather from Old English and Germanic words meaning “ground.” 

This begins the journey of giving the heavenly bodies ruling characteristics when they are dominant or are in unusual planetary positions to one another. 

Planetary Influences on Behavior

Sun: Represents your core identity, ego, and life purpose. It drives your basic sense of self and conscious will.
Moon: Rules your hidden emotions, instincts, and subconscious mind. It shows how you feel safe and react instinctively.
Mercury: Governs communication, thinking, and learning. It shapes how you process information and speak to others.
Venus: Controls love, beauty, and values. It dictates how you form relationships and what you find pleasing.
Mars: Drives action, desire, and anger. It fuels your energy, ambition, and how you fight for goals.
Jupiter: Inspires growth, luck, and wisdom. It expands your horizons through travel, philosophy, and optimism.
Saturn: Commands discipline, rules, and responsibility. It teaches hard lessons through limits, time, and structure.
Uranus: Sparks change, rebellion, and innovation. It breaks old patterns for sudden breakthroughs.
Neptune: Influences dreams, illusion, and spirituality. It blurs boundaries through art, empathy, and escapism.
Pluto: Powers transformation, power, and rebirth. It brings deep psychological shifts and hidden truths to light. 

The next aligning of the planets will be in November, the same month when mid-term elections are held. On November 14, 2026, Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter will be aligned. This will be another powerful cosmic CHECKPOINT encouraging deep REFLECTION, emotional reset, INTENTIONAL realignment with your personal PATH. I do believe this election will have us ALL reflecting on how America and it's citizens have gotten to where we ARE now.

From a spiritual and astrological perspective, a late-year planetary gathering (featuring planets like Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and others visible through November and December 2026) symbolizes a powerful cosmic checkpoint. When multiple planetary energies concentrate in the sky together, spiritual traditions view it as a high-vibration threshold encouraging deep reflection, emotional reset, and intentional realignment with your personal life path. 

These planetary alignments occur often and largely go unnoticed. But for those who study the heavens, there are patterns which coincide with major events in history. 2027 will have several of these alignments: April 18, July 2, September 18, and December 25, 2027. Major planetary alignments scientists are looking forward to are in September 8, 2040, March 15, 2080, May 19, 2161, November 7, 2176, and May 6, 2492. When ALL of the planets align it is called a "Full" planetary alignment which will be occurring February 3, 2034. These alignments have been most noted for the panic they cause moreso than for any scientific facts.

Ancient and Historical Sightings

185 BC (Babylon): The oldest known written record of a planetary alignment was discovered on stone cuneiform tablets, noting a naked-eye massing of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. 
3 BC – 2 BC: A close conjunction of Jupiter and Venus in the constellation Leo created an exceptionally bright star-like point in the sky, widely theorized by historians and astronomers to be the origin of the biblical Star of Bethlehem. 

Modern Cultural Panics

February 4, 1962: A rare alignment of five naked-eye planets, the sun, the moon, and a total solar eclipse occurred. It sparked global panic: traffic jammed in Rome, bomb shelters sold out in the U.S., and millions attended prayer vigils in India over groundless fears of destruction. 
March 10, 1982: Boosted by the pseudoscientific book The Jupiter Effect, an alignment of all nine planets on the same side of the sun led to widespread fears of triggering massive earthquakes and the end of the world, though normal planetary motion continued safely. 

No matter their true affect if any, the planets have intrigued us for centuries and will continue to do so with their Core Spiritual Themes exampled by these few well-known planets:

Amplified Energy: Multiple planetary influences overlap, making current life lessons or recurring themes feel much more intense and impossible to ignore. 
Threshold of Change: Acts as a mirror for personal growth, highlighting what areas of life you have outgrown and urging you to step forward. 
Intentional Reset: Serves as a natural pause to re-evaluate your core values, relationships, and long-term vision before the year closes. Key Planetary Influences
Venus (Love & Self-Worth): Shifts focus toward boundaries, deeper connections, and honoring your true worth in relationships.
Mars & Jupiter (Action & Expansion): Pushes a dynamic urge to stop playing small, channel your inner drive, and invest wisely in your future.
Saturn (Discipline & Karma): Grounds high-minded dreams into practical reality, asking for accountability and steady progress.