Finding the way
This week was made incomprehensibly difficult and painful by the release Friday evening of the video that documents Tyre Nichols’s murder at the hands of five, now former, Memphis police officers.
I do not want to write about it too much tonight, simply because I want to ask you to center Black voices, as we learn more about this unspeakable tragedy. I wrote a piece for MSNBC earlier this week, published this morning, discussing the importance of the federal investigation and talking about DOJ’s important role in what comes next. But tonight I am listening to Black voices and reading everything I can to try to grasp what the Black community is thinking, feeling, and recommending we do next, because it’s clear that what’s been tried up until now has failed, and I want to listen to them.
One place to start, if you’re looking for an explanation of the state charges filed against the five men responsible for Mr. Nichols’s death, is my friend and former DOJ colleague Elliot Williams’s thread from the day they were announced, laying them out.
We are here, in large part, because the country did not get police reform, the comprehensive package of legal reforms that came tantalizingly close to passing in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. The Black Lives Matter movement helped white Americans who were willing understand what systemic racism meant and, more importantly, how it impacted people’s lives in harmful, damaging ways. But we haven’t fulfilled the promise those days held for George Floyd’s young daughter, who was captured on video saying, “Daddy changed the world.” The best we can do is try to understand with open hearts and a desire to do whatever it takes to make sure Gianna Floyd and Tyre Nichols’s 4-year-old son come of age in a world that makes it possible for them to thrive and contribute their talents without fear.
This evening, I read former head of the Legal Defense Fund, Sherrilyn Ifill’s piece, “When White America Offloads its Failures on to Civil Rights Movements.” She is one of the most fearless, honest, thoughtful people I know and we’re fortunate to have the chance to learn from her. I was also struck by journalist Wesley Lowery’s thread, which helps us see the police stop that led to Tyre Nichol’s death for what it really was. I hope you’ll share important comments, perspectives, writing, etc. that you come across in the days and weeks ahead, as we all try to learn more so we can do more.
Tonight my thoughts are with Mr. Nichols’s mother and his family, and with the community in Memphis that is shattered, again, because this is not the first time that community has experienced loss through police violence.
We’re in this together,
Joyce
I’m an ex police officer. Watching the video closely r from beginning to end I saw no pretext for the stop. We are left to wonder was it a traffic violation? Recognizing and stopping a fugitive for warrant service?
But most importantly, there was no initial contact. There was no statement explaining the violation. What struck me was that the first officer at the car opened the door and jerked the driver out abruptly and put him in the ground.
I believe it may be revealed that there was an off duty, unrelated reason for the stop and violent beating in gang fashion. The only combat from the victim was defensive moves and running for his life. It appears he knew what was coming.
As a police officer I never arrested a guilty person. They were suspected citizens and my job was to get them to the court. Alive. In good shape.
They may then be found guilty.
The other odd thing in the video was the amount of time they spent beating the man. Sirens. Lights. Cruisers. Screams.
And not a soul stepped out of a house to see or record by phone the police conduct.
That suggested to me the SCORPION unit runs roughshod over the district causing fear in the community they are supposed to protect.
This young man was given no opportunity to comply. No chance to surrender. No way to understand what the contract was based upon.
I never saw or heard an attempt to make a lawful arrest.
I’m glad Mr Crump is on this case.
A young man isviolentlybeaten by the cops
And not one had the balls to tell the others
to stop
Where is human decency when the police
stayed outside the classroom
And children and teachers died and
The school became their tomb
Where is accountability when
the President tells a big lie
AndCapitol Police and others die?
Where is our country and those that don’t want to help Ukraine
With so many shootings
Our country is filled with pain