City officials in Palmdale, California are officially backing the call for an independant investigation and autopsy to be done in the death of Robert Fuller, a 24-year-old Black man who was found hanging from a tree in Palmdale earlier this week. His body was found hanging at Poncitlan square next to City Hall in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday, June 10th. The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department ruled the death a suicide; however, his family and many others who've heard the story are not convinced that this was self-inflicted, and are calling for a new investigation into his death, believing it to be a lynching.
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After initially standing by the ruling, Palmdale city officials have since released a new statement, expressing their support for the call for an independant investigation. The statement was shared by the City of Palmdale on Saturday, June 13th.
"Following the death of Mr. Robert Fuller, the City of Palmdale is officially supporting the call for an independent investigation and an independent autopsy of Mr. Fuller who was found dead on June 10, 2020 at Poncitlan Square in Palmdale," the statement reads. "The City of Palmdale is joining the family and the community’s call for justice, and we do support a full investigation into his death. We will settle for nothing less than a thorough accounting of this matter. The City has already reached out to Mr. Fuller’s family, offering help and support, and will do everything possible to assist Mr. Fuller’s family during this difficult time as a complete vetting of his death is investigated. We join with our community and Robert Fuller’s family in mourning his tragic death."
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The Palmdale Sheriff originally claimed that there were no working security cameras in the area where Fuller was found; however, considering his body was found right next to City Hall, many find this highly suspect. Investigative journalist Billy Jensen pointed out that several businesses in the surrounding area also have outdoor security cameras.
As pointed out by Complex, Fuller is also the second Black man to be found hanging from a tree in California within the last two months. On May 31, 38-year-old Malcolm Harsch was found dead in Victorville, California, a hanging also ruled as a suicide.
A Change.org petition demanding "a thorough and transparent investigation by Palmdale PD" into Fuller's death has nearly reached its goal of 200,000 signatures. Fuller's sister, Diamond Alexander, also started a GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral costs. It has raised nearly $200,000 as of Sunday morning.
Robert Fuller’s Body Found Hanging From Tree In Palmdale, California
Robert Fuller, a 23-year-old Black man, was found hanging from a tree next to city hall and officials are calling it a suicide.
The world is outraged after the death of Robert Fuller, a 23-year-old man whose body was found hanging from a tree next to city hall in Palmdale, California.
His body was discovered early this morning and Lt. Brandon Dean of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau is noting that the circumstances surrounding his passing point to suicide. The public isn't that easily convinced though.
All across social media, people are calling for an independent autopsy to be performed as a large number of folks believe this to be a lynching.
Fuller's older sister, Diamond Alexander, spoke about his death on Facebook.
"Words can’t describe how much my family is hurting right now," she wrote. "Today we just got word that Robert body was found hanging in a tree out in Palmdale. It’s still under investigation. If anyone seen anything please come forward. Brother you will forever be in our heart. RIP."
There have been no reports of a suicide note left or anything else that would point to this being a suicide.
The city of Palmdale is urging residents to take care of their mental health following this incident.
"The City of Palmdale extends its sincere condolences and sympathies to the family and friends of the individual who tragically passed away in Palmdale on Wednesday. Our thoughts and prayers are with them," wrote the city's official Facebook page. "City Manager J.J. Murphy received confirmation that this unfortunate incident was a death by suicide. Sadly, it is not the first such incident since the COVID-19 pandemic began."
Rest in peace, Robert Fuller. Say his name.
Meek Mill Calls Execution Of Nathaniel Woods A "Lynching"
Meek Mill compared the execution of Nathaniel Woods, who was sentenced to death for the murder of three police officers in 2004, to a "lynching."
Meek Mill spoke out about the injustices faced by black men in America after a death row inmate, Nathaniel Woods, was executed in Alabama despite widespread questioning of his culpability in the murder of three police officers in 2004. Woods, alongside fellow death row inmate, Kerry Spencer, was convicted of capital murder in 2005 and was sentenced to death for shooting and killing the three Birmingham officers and wounding another. Woods was pronounced dead on Thursday night after receiving a lethal injection, despite activists protesting his death sentence and Spencer even claiming full responsibility for fatally shooting the officers and maintaining Woods innocence. The Supreme Court had put a temporary halt on the execution but lifted it within hours. Woods' attorneys petitioned Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to stay his execution, but Ivey refused.
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Meek took to Twitter to express his outrage, declaring that Woods had been "lynched" and urging white Americans to step up against racism in the justice system.
"A black man that didn’t kill nor plan to kill got lynched in 2020 in Alabama!" Meek tweeted. "As a black man how can you believe in the American justice system ..that shit gotta change and if you are white and not a racist STEP UP because you guys have majority control over the system today!!!" He followed this tweet up with a statement about the history of lynching, and further urged white people to take a stand.
"Lynching should be banned off the simple fact they used to do that to slaves!" he declared. "Facts!" he continued, "We live in WHITE America and it aint gon change til the whites help us minorities out." As a prison reform advocate, Meek has been very vocal about the pervasive issues within the justice system. He founded the REFORM Alliance, a collective committed to "dramatically reducing the number of people who are needlessly trapped in the system," after he was unjustly imprisoned for minor probation violations. Meek continues to be outspoken about the widespread injustices within the system.
Congress Approves Legislation Making Lynching A Federal Hate Crime
It only took 120 years, but lynching is finally considered a federal hate crime in the U.S.
It’s hard to believe it took this long, but the House of Representatives finally approved legislation designating lynching as a hate crime under federal law.
Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) introduced the bill, naming it the Emmett Till Antilynching Act after the 14-year-old boy who was lynched in Mississippi 65 years ago, Vice reports. It’s also been 120 years since Congress first considered passing anti-lynching legislation, which is quite unbelievable when you think about it.
The legislation passed 410 to four in the House and is now on its way to the White House, where President Trump is anticipated to sign it. The Senate passed the bill last year, which specifies lynching “as a federal hate crime punishable by up to life in prison, a fine, or both,” NBC News writes.
“The importance of this bill cannot be overstated,” Rush told NBC. “From Charlottesville to El Paso, we are still being confronted with the same violent racism and hatred that took the life of Emmett and so many others. The passage of this bill will send a strong and clear message to the nation that we will not tolerate this bigotry.”
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) represents the district where Till was abducted and killed. “No matter the length of time, it is never too late to ensure justice is served,” Thompsons told NBC.
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