Protesters Rally In NYC Park Where Black Man Was Found Hanged

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — Even as more than 100 protesters gathered in the Manhattan park where Dominique Alexander, a black man, was found hanging from a tree last week, his name was largely absent from the demonstration.

Organizers said the omission was a conscious decision.

"The family just eulogized him and just laid him to rest — we chose not to bring his name into this space because the family is grieving," said organizer Carlene Pinto, founder of the NYC Action Lab.

But the absence of his name shouldn't signal a lack of concern, Pinto said. In fact, just the opposite.

Both organizers and elected officials have called for a full investigation into Alexander's death, which was deemed a suicide by the medical examiner last week.

The NYPD said Saturday that the investigation into his death is "ongoing." Attempts by Patch to reach his family were unsuccessful.

Alexander died the same week that at least two other black men were found hanged from trees across the country in recent weeks, sparking similar calls for investigations.

"There have been black bodies found hanging from trees — doesn't it sound like something from the past?" Democratic State Committee Woman Nayma Silver-Matos said at Fort Tryon demonstration. "It's happening at our front door."

Organizers emphasized, though, that Saturday's demonstration was a necessary step no matter what the investigation into Alexander's death reveals. Speakers with NYC Action Lab and Black Lives Matter of Greater New York spent the nearly three hours echoing calls against systemic racism that have been the center of ongoing police brutality protests across the city.

"This was a local effort to make sure we’re centering black voices — whether that was a black suicide or a black murder — we’re centering black voices," Pinto said.

Speakers covered everything from defunding the NYPD to give more money to schools in minority neighborhoods, to bringing together the Latinx and Black communities and ending bias in the criminal justice system.

That need for awareness and solidarity had been at the forefront for Frankie Reese, who started the plans for the demonstration.

Reese said she was prompted to do something after hearing about Alexander's death and realizing it wasn't getting much attention. The organizing groups quickly offered to help after hearing about her idea, Reese said.

"I actually walked through the park that morning and I had no idea," she said. "I was alarmed because there was very little media coverage about such a big incident."

"When you see a young black man...when you see his life end, in whatever way it ends, and it does not receive coverage in our neighborhood, we are concerned."

Anyone struggling with mental health can get help by calling National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or visiting his website. New Yorkers can also find resources by calling 1-888-NYC-WELL.