Tyre Nichols

On the night of January 7th, Tyre Nichols was stopped by Memphis Police for what they stated was a traffic violation, “reckless driving,” it was. Three days later, Nichols died, succumbing to the injuries given to him by four police officers. 

Initial reports by the police stated Nichols was resisting and acting violently, fighting back and even attempting to grab an officer’s gun. These reports once again substantiated the claims of reckless and dangerous driving. One officer who has since been charged with second-degree murder was described as a “victim.” 

But we know from CCTV footage and body cam footage that these reports were falsified and are not congruent with what was seen in the footage to downplay what had really happened that night.

Four police officers beat, bludgeoned, and mutilated Tyre Nichols. 

His family has said that the police had beaten him so terribly that he was unrecognizable. 

Luckily, justice was swiftly served in that all of the cops were promptly fired and charged with second-degree murder, and since this writing, two more officers and negligent personnel have been relieved of their duties.  

In Memphis, a group of demonstrators gathered at a downtown park and then took to the streets, shutting down a bridge over the Mississippi River between Memphis and West Memphis. They chanted loudly and passionately, “no justice, no peace” and “justice for Tyre,” promptly shutting down the bridge for nearly three hours before peacefully disbanding.

What is especially sad is that all attempted reforms were, in effect, body cam footage, black cops, and more cops on the scene. Yet that man still died; maybe some proper systemic change will occur. Now perhaps we will get the reform we’ve been asking for since George Floyd, since Rodney King.