Questions are surrounding the death of a Black man who was found hanging from a tree in New York.
According to the Times Union, officers found the body hanging from a tree on Westerlo Street in Albany, New York last week.
Police pushed back against the possibility of the lynching, ruling the Black man’s death a suicide.
“At this time, based upon preliminary investigation, the circumstances appear to be consistent with suicide and no evidence to suggest that the incident is criminal in nature,” Albany police said in a statement.
Police haven’t publicly confirmed the man’s identity, but social media users have identified him as Earl Smith.
Locals have taken to social media to express skepticism over Smith’s manner of death and its lack of media coverage. Police have also reportedly declined to review or release camera footage of the incident.
A woman identifying as Smith’s niece wrote on social media: “This is my uncle, and again, he didn’t hang himself, let alone have a red flag on him. He was a happy soul. There’s cameras where this happened, and police never asked to see the video. What are they covering up? That video will tell us everything we need to know.”
“I work in Albany and live in the area and haven’t heard a single thing about this until right now. How is nobody saying anything about it?” one TikTok user commented on a video shedding light on the incident.
“This is being is being actively covered up. It’s our duty as a community to ensure this doesn’t get erased,” another person wrote.
Offering a different perspective on the incident, a third social media user said: “I’m from Albany & I want to preface by saying I’m NOT discrediting the possible niece, but happy people put on a facade.”
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