Details remain unknown concerning the death of Otis James Byrd who was found hanging from a tree by a sheet behind his Port Gibson home on March 19. Months later, many are still left wondering whether the death will be ruled a suicide or homicide.

Following an initial demonstration held April 4 with more than 100 people marching the streets of Port Gibson, a march with around 40 participants was held Friday in protest of the way Byrd’s death has been investigated.

Stephanie Atlas, one of the event’s organizers, said the Committee Demanding Justice for Otis Byrd put on the march.

“We want to let the people know we’re not going for them not telling anything, and we’re not going to let them tell us he committed suicide because he didn’t,” she said.

“We don’t care if it’s black, white or whoever did it, but we want justice. The family needs justice for closure.”

Atlas said they plan to continue protesting and seeking justice because they have seen what injustice looks like.

“We’re not only doing this for Otis Byrd, but we’re doing this for all the families,” she said. “This isn’t the only case in Claiborne County where a murder hasn’t been solved. We’re letting the FBI, the sheriff and everybody know we’re not taking suicide for an answer. Whoever did it, we want them prosecuted.”

Byrd’s niece, Tracet Walker, said the family is on board with the protests being held in Port Gibson.

“We’re demanding justice,” she said. “His sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews were there.”

Of those in attendance, many were from out of town locations in Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Michigan.

Representatives from the New Black Panther Party, National Action Network, NAACP, Real Learning Institute and the Provisional Government of the Republic of New Africa were in attendance.

New Black Panther Party national chair Krystal Muhammad said the government is violating international human rights by failing to protect its citizens and failing to provide swift justice.

“This is clearly a lynching and they are trying to set a wicked pattern just like the young man that was lynched Monday,” she said. “It keeps coming from the bureaus of investigation. It’s clearly a conspiracy to cover up lynching.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Don Alway previously said the FBI is waiting on some final results before they can move forward.

Claiborne County Sherriff Marvin Lucas confirmed the investigation has been stalled while waiting on test results.

“We’re just waiting on results to come from Virginia,” he said.

“Nothing else is going on.”

The family hired Jackson-based law firm Sweet and Associates in early April after they felt they had not been given adequate information and to seek out and independent medical evaluation.

Attorney Dennis Sweet IV said the firm is still in the process of collecting information.