Debate Grows Over Claims About Black Hanging Deaths
Listen to the story
Some Black people have died in hanging cases in the United States. Families say they want answers about the deaths.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called these deaths 'modern-day lynchings.' A lynching is when a person is killed by a group, often because of their race.
Many people online did not agree with her words. They said the findings from the cases show a different story.
Another lawmaker, Al Green, asked for a special congressional hearing. A hearing is a meeting where officials look at facts about a problem.
He wants Congress to study these cases together. He hopes this can help find the truth about what happened.
The story is still developing. People have different views about what caused the deaths.
Some believe the deaths were hate crimes. A hate crime is a crime done because of someone's race, religion, or group.
Others believe the findings do not support that idea.
Black families affected by these cases are still asking for more information.
They want to know the full truth about how their family members died.
Vocabulary5 words
- lynching
- killing a person, often because of race
- congressional hearing
- a meeting where officials study a problem
- hate crime
- a crime done because of a person's race or group
- findings
- facts found after looking into something
- claim
- a statement that something is true
Quiz
Answer key
1. Modern-day lynchings 2. A congressional hearing 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Some Black people have died in _____ cases in the United States.
Families say they want _____ about the deaths.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called these deaths 'modern-day _____.'
Many people online did not _____ with her words.
They said the findings from the cases show a different _____.
Another lawmaker, Al Green, asked for a special congressional _____.
He wants Congress to _____ these cases together.
Some believe the deaths were _____ crimes.
Others believe the findings do not _____ that idea.
Black families affected are still asking for more _____.
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