Editor’s note: This article contains gory videos and descriptions of violence.
CNN
—
Protesters held marches and rallies across the United States on Saturday, a day after the release of video showing police horribly beating Tire Nichols in Memphis.
Graphic footage of police beating a black man who died earlier this month has sparked outrage across the country. Protests began to take shape Friday night, with people in several cities taking to the streets holding up signs bearing Nichols’ name.
Saturday’s march, rally expected in Memphis, Cities such as Boston, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Athens, Georgia, and Columbus, Ohio. Most occur in the afternoon or evening.
Protesters near Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park on Saturday repeated Nichols’ name and demanded justice. Then they continued the procession through the city center.
In Memphis, protesters shut down an Interstate 55 bridge near downtown on Friday night, chanting “no justice, no peace,” according to the CNN team at the scene. Police said no arrests were made in connection with the demonstration.
Before the video was released, Nichols’ mother, Row Vaughn Wells, called for a peaceful protest.
Memphis City Councilwoman Michalyn Easter-Thomas told CNN’s Boris Sanchez on Saturday that before the video was released, there were fears of violent protests due to a lack of accountability from police in previous incidents.
“And I think last night, we saw a very peaceful and immediate sense of protest in the city of Memphis, and I think that’s because maybe we do have confidence and hope that this time the system will get it right,” Easter-Thomas said.
Five Memphis officers were fired and charged in Nichols’ death.
In New York, videos posted on social media showed skirmishes erupting between several protesters and police as demonstrators packed Times Square.
Three demonstrators were arrested and one was seen jumping on the hood of a police vehicle and breaking the windshield, the NYPD said.
Protesters also gathered in Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C., demanding justice for Nichols, according to social media videos.
Along the West Coast, protesters marched in Portland, Oregon and San Francisco, holding signs that read “Justice for Tire Nichols” and “Prison Killer Cop.”
Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis warned before releasing the video to the public that the video of the Jan. 7 encounter showed “actions against humanity.” Nichols died on January 10.
The arrest began with a traffic stop where officers say reckless driving, and then continued to show officers beating Nichols with batons, kicking him and beating him — including with his hands bound behind his body — as a young man Weeping for his mother, the video shows.
The encounter ended with Nichols on the ground in handcuffs, leaning against an unattended police car as officers moved around. Nichols was later hospitalized and died three days later.
The video shows that 23 minutes had passed between the time Nichols appeared to be subdued and lay on his back on the ground until the stretcher arrived at the scene.
Shelby County District Attorney Steven Mulroy said footage of the violent encounter was released because Nichols’ family “wanted the world to be their witness and feel their pain.”
Mulroy added: “While nothing we have done will bring Tyre back, we assure you that we will do everything in our power to ensure justice for Tire Nichols for Tire’s family and our city of Memphis.”
The Memphis Police Department has been unable to find any evidence of a possible cause of the reckless driving and said video of the encounter showed “a disregard for life, the duty of care we are all sworn to perform,” Davis said.
Five former Memphis police officers involved in the arrest — who are also black — have been charged with second-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping, according to the Shelby County District Attorney. They were identified as Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Justin Smith, Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills Jr.
Pending the results of an internal investigation, two Memphis Fire Department employees who were part of Nichols’ initial care were fired.
Additionally, two deputies from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office were suspended pending an investigation after seeing the video.
Nichols’ family attorney, Ben Crump, said the family was unaware that two members of the sheriff’s office were at the scene of the beating, and “it’s the first time they’ve heard about it,” CNN reported Saturday.
The Memphis Police Association, which represents the city’s police officers, offered its condolences to the Nichols family and said it does not condone abuse of citizens or abuse of power.
The association said it had “confidence in the criminal justice system”.
“This belief is what we will rely on in the days, weeks and months ahead to ensure the full story is revealed,” a statement said. “Mr. Nichols’ family, the city of Memphis and the nation Elsewhere deserves it. We pray for justice, healing and eventual closure for all involved.”
Next week’s city council meeting will be “robust,” according to Easter-Thomas.
Easter-Thomas said she wanted to make sure the department knew the council was behind them, but wanted officers to do their jobs “dutifully”.
‘We all know fate’: Memphis lawmaker emotionally describes Nichols video
The Memphis police chief likened the video to the 1991 beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police officers, which sparked days of unrest in the city.
“I worked in law enforcement during the Rodney King incident, and it fits very well with that same type of behavior,” Davis said.
Crump also draws comparisons. “Being beaten, beaten, punched, electrocuted, pepper sprayed. It’s very disturbing,” he said.
“The only difference between my dad’s situation and now is the tags and clearer cameras,” Rodney King’s daughter Lora King told CNN. “We have to do better and that’s unacceptable.”
“I don’t think anyone in their right mind, anyone who respects humanity would accept this,” she said, adding that she felt sorry for Nichols’ family and loved ones. “I’m just sad about where we are in America and we’re still here. I can’t believe it.”
Protests over Nichols’ death are scheduled for Saturday in Los Angeles.
Memphis City Council President Martavius Jones during an emotional discussion of the video with CNN’s Don Lemon on Friday.
“It’s a traffic stop,” Jones said. “It shouldn’t have ended like this.”
U.S. Representative Steve Cohen, who represents parts of Memphis, said the video was “overwhelming.”
“They’re not there to serve and protect, not even to arrest; they’re there to punish and rule,” he said.
U.S. President Joe Biden said he was “outraged and pained” after seeing the video. “This is yet another painful reminder of the deep fear and trauma, pain and exhaustion that Black and brown people in America experience every day.”
The governor across the aisle also expressed outrage at the violence.