The Five panel on Fox News criticized Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for using a ‘fake Southern accent’ at a rally in Memphis for Justin Pearson. This sparked discussions about her authenticity and her policy skills. Commentators often question her capability in argumentative debates, pointing to past policy proposals like the Amazon HQ2 controversy in Long Island City.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, spoke out against ‘racial terror’ and ‘modern-day lynchings’ in the U.S. She, along with other Democrats, called for the DOJ and FBI to investigate hanging deaths of Black Americans. Several cases have been ruled suicides by officials, though some remain under investigation for potential homicides. Ocasio-Cortez claims systemic racial bias exists within these agencies, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley has described the hangings as a ‘national crisis’ in her letter to federal agencies.
Ocasio-Cortez wrote on social media that, ‘There have already been 10 reported hangings of Black people in the U.S. this year.’ She supports Pressley’s demand for an in-depth federal investigation into each case, as they argue federal agencies have historically failed to investigate these deaths adequately.
The report mentions several specific cases, including a 21-year-old found in a Cobb County, Atlanta park, which was ruled a suicide, and a Delta State University student in Mississippi whose death was similarly classified. The letter addresses these tragedies and the historical parallels they draw to past racial violence.
Social media responses to the lawmakers’ comments included criticisms of Ocasio-Cortez. Some accused her of distorting facts, highlighting that many cases she referenced were deemed suicides, not homicides. Critics on social media suggested political figures should face consequences for misinformation.
The Community Notes feature on social media platforms pointed to official findings that many prominent hanging deaths identified in 2025 and 2026 were classified as suicides, with only one under homicide investigation. Fox News Digital sought comments from Ocasio-Cortez, Pressley, the DOJ, and the FBI regarding the incidents.