Memphis, Tenn. , protestors outside A Memphis Police Department precinct sought charges against an officer who fired what appeared to be a Taser. in the video In which five other officers are shown badly beating a black man.
Protests and vigils were scheduled across the country for Sunday, two days after the release of footage showing members of Memphis police mercilessly kicking and punching a 29-year-old father, skateboarder and FedEx worker.
The officer with the Taser appears to be white — the five charged with murder in Nichols’ death are black — and is heard saying, “I hope they bust his ass.” A small group protesting outside the police compound called for his identity to be revealed.
“They’re blaming black officers” said activist Casio Montez. “We want that white officer named. We want him charged.”
Memphis protesters held a three-minute moment of silence, the number of times Nichols was beaten up during a January 7 traffic stop. He died three days later.
“It was the longest three minutes of silence in my life,” said activist Jennifer Cain, whose group of about 30 protesters organized the protest. “It’s three minutes of beatings. Three minutes of yelling and screaming for your mom.”
In cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Portland, Oregon, protests have been scattered and nonviolent. In Milwaukee, Peace Action Wisconsin was one of the groups sponsoring a march from Red Arrow Park to a local police precinct.
“The body cam footage is terrible and not worth watching,” the group says. Website, “We are demanding justice for Nichols and all victims of police violence. We are demanding accountability and transparency from the police.”
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Oakland, California, on Sunday night to rally for an end to police brutality and march for Nichols. Several community members and advocates spoke during the rally, which was organized by the Police Anti-Terrorism Project.
Dieudonné Bro, program coordinator for youth advocacy and the Urban Peace Movement, said during the protest, “I haven’t seen the video yet. I just wanted to know who was involved and that’s all.” “It’s the same thing over and over again. Then we sit in our homes and think, ‘Will this be our destiny?'”
Video shows violent beating of Tyre Nichols:he died three days later
Other Developments:
Other vigils and protests include New Haven, Connecticut; West Chester, Pennsylvania; Springfield, Missouri; Stockton, California; and Anchorage, Alaska.
► The University of Memphis resumed normal hours Sunday after closing “until further notice” in response to the release of the video.
► Funeral of Nicholas will be held wednesday at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis.
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‘We can’t stick it out:’ Mississippi church holds Sunday service
When Rev. J. Lawrence Turner prayed at his church Sunday morning for anyone who wishes to come forward or stand, so nearly the entire congregation at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church rose to their feet.
Turner’s Sunday sermon emphasized the brutality faced by Jesus from Roman soldiers and the brutality faced by Nichols from Memphis officers, but also looked further.
“We can’t rule it out,” Turner said. “We can’t just be bystanders, we’ve got to get into the fight, we’ve got to get into the fight. And what does that mean? It doesn’t mean you get on the streets and tear the city down. It means we got to fight with those people.” There will have to be some brave conversations that are in the lead. You shouldn’t have hate in your heart to hold someone accountable.”
Turner challenged the congregation to call for leadership, even if it meant calling people into the aisle, and referenced the partisan impasse that has prevented the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act from becoming law.
– Gina Butkovich, Memphis Commercial Appeal
What happened to Tyra Nichols?
Memphis police officers pulled over 29-year-old Nichols on Jan. 7 on a charge of reckless driving. The initial police report stated only that there was a “confrontation”, Nichols fled on foot, and then another confrontation. The report said Nichols then complained of shortness of breath.
Nichols was admitted to the hospital that night in critical condition. He died three days later, having suffered “extensive hemorrhaging due to severe beatings”, according to an autopsy commissioned by his family. Federal investigators launched a civil rights investigation on January 18. The officers were fired on January 20 and have been charged with murder and other related crimes.
civil rights attorney ben crump Appreciated the Memphis Police Chief and County Prosecutors For quick response, call their efforts a “blueprint going forward”.
Video of brutal beating released
video released Body-worn and utility pole cameras showed officers pepper spraying, kicking, punching, and hitting Nichols while he was restrained, beating him with batons, and hitting him with a Taser. Nichols cried for his mother and allowed her to go to a nearby house. Finally, he lay motionless next to a police car while officers were gathering around him. The ambulance arrived after about 20 minutes.
“This is not just a professional failure, this is a failure of basic humanity toward another person,” Memphis Police Chief CJ Davis said in a statement. He described the officers’ behavior as “heinous, reckless and inhuman”.
5 officers freed on bond for second degree murder
The department confirmed that all five officers charged in Nichols’ death are members of the Scorpion, or Street Crime operation to restore peace in our neighborhoods. Taddeus Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith are each charged with second-degree murder; aggravated assault, acting in concert; two counts of aggravated kidnapping; two cases of official misconduct; and official repression. All were released on bail ranging from $250,000 to $350,000. The charge was set for 17 February.
Martin’s attorney, William Massey, said, “No one wanted Tyr Nichols to die that night.”
Memphis disbands Scorpion police unit
The 50-person SCORPION unit was set up in 2021. Its goal was to reduce crime by 5% by concentrating officers in high crime areas, a saturated patrolling strategy used by other urban police forces. City and police officials praised the unit’s statistics for making arrests and recovering guns. But Antonio Romanucci, a lawyer for the Nicolas family, said the Scorpions and other special police units target “the most vulnerable” and should be disbanded.
“These are suppression units,” he said. “And what they do is they oppress the people we care about most – our children, our young sons and daughters who are black and brown.”
Rev. Al Sharpton argued that if the units were set up to deal with serious crimes, “why are you dealing with an alleged traffic violation in the first place?”
on saturday the unit was disbanded,
Two sheriff’s deputies were relieved of duties pending the investigation
Sheriff Floyd Bonner said he launched an internal investigation after viewing the videotape to determine whether his department’s policies were violated.
“I am concerned about the two deputies who appeared at the scene following a physical confrontation between police and Tyra Nichols,” Bonner said in a statement. “Both of these deputies have been relieved of duty pending the outcome of this administrative investigation.”
Contribution: Associated Press
