Family of 17-year-old Raynard Johnson, Found Hanged, Seek Federal Investigation on Capitol Hill
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Almost one month after the hanging death of a young man in Mississippi, his family is in the nation's capital asking for justice. The body of 17-year-old Raynard Johnson was found hanging from a tree in the yard of his family's home in Kokomo, Mississippi. Authorities ruled the death a suicide. But his parents are asking Attorney General Janet Reno for a federal investigation. CNN justice correspondent Pierre Thomas has the latest from Washington. Hi, Pierre.</s>PIERRE THOMAS, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. At this hour, the mother and brother of Raynard Johnson are expected to meet with the attorney general to make their case for a federal investigation. This morning, they met with members of Congress, and their message is very clear: They do not believe this young man killed himself.</s>MARIA JOHNSON, MOTHER: I think that he was killed, and hung in this tree in my yard.</s>ROGER JOHNSON, BROTHER: I think he was killed by people who did not like the way he was living, and his lifestyle and all. I believe he was killed, yeah.</s>THOMAS: Some members of the Congressional Black Caucus are outraged and are calling for action.</s>REP. JOHN CONYERS (D), MICHIGAN: Given the history of lynching in Mississippi, the community must have confidence in the integrity of the investigation to, first of all, prosecute those who may be guilty and then to continue this historical difficult process of healing.</s>THOMAS: Race, lynchings, the South, old legacies of the '50s and '60s back in the forefront -- Kyra.</s>PHILLIPS: Pierre, the brother mentioned his brother's lifestyle that people had a problem with that. What did he mean by his lifestyle?</s>THOMAS: What he was talking about there is, apparently, his brother and he used to occasionally socialize with some of the white women in the community. And apparently, according to this brother, there some in the community, the white community, that did not like that. They believe that that was probably a cause, if this turns out to be a homicide.</s>PHILLIPS: Now, what this family is pushing for, how is that different than from other hate crime laws that are in existence right now?</s>THOMAS: Well, back, now earlier actually in June, the Senate passed a -- hate crimes legislation. It's somewhat wallowing in the House right now. But what this legislation would do would be to broaden current civil rights law to include actions other than persons of a particular color being hurt or harmed en route to voting. This new law would allow any person who is killed for racially motivated reasons, or if for being gay, to be included in federal investigations.</s>PHILLIPS: Justice Department Pierre Thomas, thank you.