Less than 24 hours after news broke that a Black man, Robert Fuller, was found hanging from a tree in the Los Angeles suburb of Palmdale, California on June 12, local outlets are reporting that another Black man, Malcolm Harsch, was found dead in similar circumstances less than two weeks ago, on May 31.
Hanging from a tree is, of course, an image charged with the racist history of lynchings and that both men were found dead near city buildings — Robert Fuller, 24, near City Hall and Harsch, near the public library — is raising questions.
RELATED: Body Of Black Man Found Hanging From Tree Outside Of Los Angeles
A Change.org petition calling for an investigation into Harsch’s death topped 10,000 signatures by Sunday morning (June 14) and is rising rapidly.
After initially ruling Fuller’s death a suicide, L.A. Sheriff’s Capt. Ron Shaffer said homicide detectives were investigating the circumstances leading to his death to determine if foul play was involved, the Daily Press reports.
Harsch’s family members, like Fuller’s, also doubt he died by suicide.
