Cvil rights activist Gerald Rose discussed the death of 21-year-old Kyle Bassinga, whose body was found hanging from a tree in Marietta's Fair Oaks Park, and announced community efforts to demand answers from authorities.
Rose, president of the New Order National Human Rights Organization (NONHRO), described the case as raising serious concerns. Bassinga, a Georgia State University student reported missing on February 14, was discovered on February 18. Cobb County police have ruled the death a suicide, citing no evidence of foul play from surveillance, witnesses, and the autopsy.
Rose expressed skepticism and called for a thorough investigation. "We don't know if he committed suicide or was it some foul play, but questions need to be asked," Rose said. He organized a prayer vigil at the park on February 24 at 11 a.m., attended by former city council members, NAACP representatives, and others, to honor Bassinga and press for transparency.
Rose emphasized the need to avoid rushing to judgment. "Just don't sweep this under the rug, say it was a suicide and it was not," he said. He planned to address the Cobb County Board of Commissioners that evening to urge against closing the case prematurely. Rose noted he had spoken with the family, who were focused on burial but shared doubts about suicide, and mentioned Bassinga's prior videos and known mental health challenges without concluding they explained the circumstances.
The discussion extended to broader patterns, with a caller, expressing distrust in official suicide rulings for Black men found hanging, referencing cases like one in Mississippi where a second autopsy revealed blunt force trauma.
Rose highlighted his organization's work as human rights advocates for all, though disproportionately affecting Black communities. NONHRO operates in 19 U.S. cities, with recent growth including a national press interview set for March 5 and a chapter in Dallas. He invited contact at 1-800-346-5138 or www.nonhro.org.
To listen to the full interview, click the link above.