A man who says he’s the father of a former Delta State University (DSU) student has alleged on social media that his son, who is Black, experienced race-based harassment and physical threats while enrolled at the Mississippi university.
The man, whose Facebook profile identifies as Genesis Perry, shared his message the same day as Demartravion “Trey” Reed, a 21-year-old DSU student, who was Black, was found hanging on the DSU campus in what authorities have called a suicide. Unconfirmed social media reports say Reed’s legs were broken and have alleged Reed died in a racially motivated attack. According to the county coroner, that’s not the case. Officials have said there’s no evidence of foul play. The NAACP has called Reed’s death a “lynching.”
Perry’s son left DSU, “fearing for his life”
In his social media update, Perry wrote, “To the Reed and Tillman family do not let this go. Our son was at Delta State 2 years ago and left fearing for his life. He was calling home talking about some of the racism he was experiencing alone with some of his friends.”
Perry said “white guys” would ride around campus, throwing trash and calling Perry’s son and his friends racial epithets. Perry says his son noted the car’s license plate number and called the police, but they took no action.
Perry added, “Our son then began to put pressure on the police department because it was constantly happening and he hadn’t heard back from the complaint he [filed]. He didn’t just become a target for racism at Delta State he became a target for the police department. For demanding that they do their job.”
“Our son had to run for his life from the police”
After reporting the harassment, Perry went on to recall one incident when he says his son “had to run for his life from the police. [Eyewitnesses] contacted his mom and I when they arrested him.”
Perry wrote, “We called both county and city and they gave us the run around saying he wasn’t taken into custody. The whole 5 hours we was there and refused to leave they told us they didn’t have him. finally after a 5 to 6 hour stand off they told us he was in the back.”
He added, “Even with the whole incident on video, and several [eyewitnesses], the courts did nothing. His story went viral on the Indisputable with Dr. Rashad Richey,” a popular news podcast. Police never arrested the white suspects harassing DSU students, and the police who wrongfully detained Perry’s son were never punished, Perry said.
“Our son later called us wanting to withdraw from Delta State,’ he added. “He began to fear for his life. he was continuously getting racial profile and he couldn’t trust the police to protect and serve him. So he left. Do not let Tray death go in vain. Turn over every-stone dot every I and cross every T. Get Tray justices.”
As of September 17, 2025, the investigation into Reed’s death remains ongoing. Reed’s family has expressed dissatisfaction with the investigation’s transparency and has called for an independent autopsy. They allege that the Bolivar County Sheriff’s Department provided inaccurate information about the circumstances of Reed’s death.
