Protesters march in Memphis after video released of police beating of Tyree Nichols
Vice President Kamala Harris will attend Tyree Nichols’ funeral tomorrow in Memphis, where the Rev. Al Sharpton will deliver the eulogy and civil rights attorney Ben Crump will issue a “call to action” in the wake of the 29-year-old’s death. old black man
Seven officers from the Memphis Police Department have faced disciplinary action in connection with the beating of Nichols earlier this month, captured on gruesome footage released publicly on Friday, fueling international calls for an end to police brutality. Nichols died in hospital three days after being beaten by police.
Five officers were fired and indicted on charges of murder and kidnapping. A sixth officer, identified as Preston Hemphill, who is white, has been suspended with pay pending an investigation, and a seventh officer, who was not immediately identified, was relieved of duty without pay.
Nichols’ parents — Rowan Wells and Rodney Wells — have accepted an invitation from the Congressional Black Caucus to attend President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address next week, and members of the caucus will meet with the president on Thursday to discuss efforts to revitalize the national police force. Reform Act.
Marjorie Taylor Green equates the police killing of Tyre Nichols with Ashley Babbitt
Speaking during a committee hearing, the Georgia congresswoman went into extensive detail about Ms Babbitt being “murdered” by police.
Noting that Ms Babbitt’s mother was in attendance, Ms Green said Congress was doing nothing to address the treatment of other participants in the attack, many of whom had been incarcerated before their trials.
my colleague John Bowden Contains more:
Namita Singh1 February 2023 03:50
‘Four out of five police officers charged with murder have previous convictions’
Memphis media reported that four of the five officers charged with murder in the case have prior violations on their records, according to personnel files obtained through records requests.
Most involve procedural violations, car accidents and equipment.
Two officers, Demetrius Haley and Desmond Mills Jr., received reprimands for failing to submit “Response to Resistance” forms after incidents involving women they arrested, according to the files.
Namita Singh1 February 2023 03:29
Al Sharpton calls cops ‘gangbangers’ as Tyree Nichols family demands justice at MLK ‘mountaintop’ church
In a fiery speech, civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton compared Memphis police officers Tyree Nichols to a group of gang members.
“We’re all about the gangbangers on the street and what colors they wear,” he said during remarks Tuesday evening. “In Memphis, they wear blue on the uniform.”
The activist called on state and federal officials to pass sweeping police reforms.
Read all the details in our breaking news story.
Namita Singh1 February 2023 02:49
‘Violence has already happened’
Al Sharpton hit out at people worried that protesters would turn violent after the police killing of Tyree Nichols.
“Nerve to ask if there is violence,” Mr Sharpton said in a speech on Tuesday. “Violence has already taken place. That’s why we will hold the funeral tomorrow, because you have acted violently on an unarmed person.
The civil rights activist said he and his fellow organizers won’t stop until federal action is taken to stop police violence. “We’ll keep going until Tire Martin can get to the top of the mountain,” Mr. Sharpton added, referring to the historic “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech he and Nichols gave at the Mason Temple. The family is standing now. “That’s why we wanted it to stand on this hallowed ground.”
NAACP Memphis President Van D. Turner, Jr. recently called on state officials to pass the proposed Tyr Nichols Criminal Justice Reform Bill, which would require police de-escalation, first aid and intervention in cases of excessive force.
Josh Marcus1 February 2023 02:30
Al Sharpton calls Tyree Nichols’ killing a ‘disgrace’
Civil rights activist Al Sharpton called the police killing of Tyre Nichols “disgraceful” during an event Tuesday evening on the eve of Nichols’ funeral.
“What happened to Tire is a disgrace to this country,” Mr Sharpton said on Tuesday.
“We’re all about the gang bangers on the street and what colors they wear,” he said. “In Memphis, they wear blue on the uniform.”
Josh Marcus1 February 2023 02:21
The need for justice has brought us here again
Faith leaders and civil rights activists pointed out parallels between the civil rights eras of Martin Luther King, Jr. and now Black Lives Matter at an event Tuesday night.
“The need for justice has brought us here again,” Bishop Brandon Porter of the Church of God in Christ said Tuesday from the historic Masonic Temple in Memphis, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his final speech before he was assassinated.
They joined the family of Tyre Nichols, who died after being severely beaten by police earlier this month.
Bishop Porter praised the efforts of Memphis authorities, who later prosecuted the officers involved in Nihkols’ murder, and thanked the Nichols family for their message of peace.
“To see you speak peace to a troubled nation, we thank you,” the bishop said, adding, “This is an important time for America to band together so there is justice for all.”
Josh Marcus1 February 2023 02:15
The Nichols family addresses the public before the funeral
Tyre Nichols’ family is expected to address the public any moment from the historic Masonic Temple in Memphis, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his final speech before he was assassinated.
Civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton and civil rights attorney Ben Crump are also expected to appear at the event.
Watch his remarks live here.
Nichols, who died after being severely beaten by police earlier this month, will be buried Wednesday at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis, with Mr. Sharpton giving the eulogy.
Josh Marcus1 February 2023 02:07
We know of seven officers disciplined in the Tyre Nichols beating
The five officers involved in the brutal beating of Tyre Nichols — Tadarius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith — were fired on Jan. 20 and have since been charged with second-degree murder.
Another officer, Preston Hemphill, was suspended along with a seventh unidentified officer.
Here’s what we know about them:
Alex Woodward1 February 2023 01:00
Four Videos, 56 Minutes, Seven Memphis Police Officers, One Fatal Arrest: What the Tyree Nichols Footage Shows
Nearly an hour of footage showing Memphis police officers pepper spray, batons, punches, kicks and tases helped bring swift murder charges against the officers involved, Tyree Nichols. independent‘s Bevan Hurley explains what footage was captured:
Alex Woodward1 February 2023 00:00
ICYMI: Memphis police accuse white officer involved in Tyree Nichols beating of ‘shield’
The Memphis Police Department “shielded and protected” the only known white officer involved in the brutal beating and subsequent death of Tyre Nichols, the family’s attorney said in a statement.
Alex Woodward31 January 2023 23:30
