Protesters march in Memphis after video released of Tyre Nichols being beaten by police
The Memphis Police Department has been accused of “shielding” the only known white officer involved in Tyre Nichols’ arrest, as it was revealed two more officers were placed on leave in connection with the man’s death at the hands of police.
Lawyers for the Nichols family denounced the Memphis police for allegedly giving special treatment to a white official by placing him on leave despite his involvement.
It comes as Memphis police disclosed that seven of its officers, including five Black officers who have already been charged over Nichols’ death, had been relieved of duty.
The sixth officer, identified as Preston Hemphill, who is white, was suspended with pay pending a hearing, and a seventh officer who was not immediately identified was relieved of duty without pay, police said.
Nichols’ parents – RowVaughn Wells and Rodney Wells – have accepted an invitation from the Congressional Black Caucus to attend Joe Biden’s State of the Union address next week.
Nichols, 29, was pulled over for a traffic stop in Memphis on 7 January. He died three days later in hospital.
Footage of the fatal encounter was released on Friday, capturing Nichols being punched, kicked and beaten with batons.
Eric Garcia: ‘Republicans choose their words carefully on Tyre Nichols’
The Independent’s Washington chief Eric Garcia writes about a long weekend of relative silence from the GOP:
The statements from the Republicans who have spoken show that they clearly know the video is disturbing. But the rhetoric they use show that they likely hope to treat this as an isolated incident and likely won’t spring into action on it.
Alex Woodward31 January 2023 15:30
‘Police are not always telling the whole truth’
The Independent’s Josh Marcus writes:
As the nation turns its attention to the death of Tyre Nichols, there’s something you need to know. In cases like these, police don’t always tell the full truth. Sometimes they seek to distract from it. Other times they flat-out lie.
This is well known to victims of police violence, civil rights organisers, and those, like me, who spend their days covering policing. But it’s an important thing to remember after the Friday release of law enforcement video of Nichols’s 7 January arrest, perhaps the most explosive instance of police misconduct since George Floyd.
Read what he has learned about law enforcement distortions while covering the cops:
Alex Woodward31 January 2023 15:00
How to support the family of Tyre Nichols
A fundraiser created by the mother of Tyre Nichols has raised more than $1m for the family in the wake of his death.
“My husband and I have had our entire world turned upside down by what happened to our son,” RowVaughn Wells wrote in the description of a GoFundMe page raising funds for the family.
“We are two hardworking, loving parents, [and] now have to turn our full-time attention to seeking proper justice for our son,” she added. “We have yet to have the proper space to begin our grieving process, which will be long and burdensome.”
The fundraiser will help cover the costs of mental health services and time off work, where they do not have unlimited paid time off, she said.
The funds will also support the creation of a memorial skate park for Nichols, “in honor of his love for skating and sunset,” according to Ms Wells.
Alex Woodward31 January 2023 14:30
Four videos, 56 minutes, seven Memphis police officers, one deadly arrest: What the Tyre Nichols footage shows
The release of footage of the fatal assault of Tyre Nichols graphically depicted the prolonged and savage fatal beating that was meted out by five Memphis Police Department officers.
But questions persist that the edited footage failed to answer, most notably the claimed traffic violation that had led officers to pull Nichols over in the first place, and what caused the officers to respond so violently.
The Independent’s Bevan Hurley has more in the story below:
Graig Graziosi31 January 2023 14:00
Republican Congressman Jim Jordan says ‘no law’ could stop the ‘evil’ in Tyre Nichols police bodycam footage
Conservative Congressman Jim Jordan told NBC News’ Meet the Press that he was unsure if any law could stop the “evil” on display in the police bodycam footage showing Tyre Nichols being beaten by officers.
“I don’t know that there’s any law that can stop that evil that we saw,” he said on the program.
He then accused Democrats of trying to use legislation to solve issues like systemic police abuse.
“The Democrats always think that it’s a new law that’s going to fix something that terrible,” he said.
Graig Graziosi31 January 2023 13:00
Congressional Black Caucus pushes Biden to restart police reform talks
Representative Steven Horsford, the Nevada congressman who serves as chair of the CBC, said in a statement on Sunday that the caucus is asking for a sit-down with Mr Biden “to push for negotiations on much needed national reforms to our justice system – specifically, the actions and conduct of our law enforcement”.
Mr Horsford said Mr Nichols’ death, which was captured on disturbing video showing him being beaten and kicked by a group of officers who are now facing murder charges, is “a grim reminder that we still have a long way to go in solving systemic police violence in America”.
The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg has more in his story:
Graig Graziosi31 January 2023 12:00
Sixth officer suspended in Tyre Nichols confirmed to have fired stun gun during encounter
Preston Hemphill, the sixth Memphis police officer to face disciplinary action in the beating of Tyre Nichols, reportedly fired a stun gun at Mr Nichols the night of the encounter that preceded his death.
The Memphis Police Department announced that Mr Hemphill had been placed on administrative leave in connection with the encounter.
He was the officer who fired a stun gun at Mr Nichols when he tried to escape from the police who had pulled him over, according to ABC 7.
Graig Graziosi31 January 2023 11:00
Newly-suspended Memphis police officer Preston Hemphill tased Tyre Nichols during traffic stop
Memphis police officer Preston Hemphill was reportedly the third officer on the scene of Tyre Nichols’ beating.
Mr Hemphill’s attorney, Lee Gerald, confirmed to ABC 7 that his client was the third officer at Nichols’ initial traffic stop.
“As per departmental regulations Officer Hemphill activated his bodycam,” Mr Gerald said in a statement. “He was never present at the second scene. He is cooperating with officials in this investigation.”
The officer’s bodycam footage was included with the footage released on Friday.
Graig Graziosi31 January 2023 09:00
ICYMI: Sixth Memphis officer suspended
A sixth Memphis police officer has reportedly been suspended from the department in the wake of the death of Tyre Nichols.
A department spokesperson speaking to Fox13 Memphis said officer Preston Hemphill has been relieved of duty.
The spokesperson did not provide details on how Mr Hemphill’s release is related to Mr Nichols.
Graig Graziosi31 January 2023 08:00
Skatepark vigil planned for Tyre Nichols in Sacramento
A skatepark in Sacramento that Tyre Nichols visited regularly said it planned to hold a vigil for him at 6:30pm PST.
Mr Nichols was a regular at the park before he moved to Memphis in 2020.
Niko Chapman, who grew up in the area, remembered Mr Nichols fondly. He recalled to Fox 2 how, when he was younger, his parents would only let him visit the skatepark if they knew Mr Nichols was there to help look out for him.
“You remember people that are really kind to you, and Tyre was just a really kind person,” Mr Chapman said. “He just always made me feel really welcome.”
Graig Graziosi31 January 2023 07:00