Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was beaten to death by five Black Memphis police officers only 100 yards away from his mother's home. The officers were swiftly charged with second degree murder, which is highly unusual. Civil rights attorneys say swift charges must become common practice in order to stop police brutality.
On this edition of Your Call, we continue our discussion about the police beating death of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black son and father. He fled on foot after he was violently pulled from his car over for reckless driving, which has not been substantiated by officials. He was then apprehended and brutally beaten by five officers about a hundred yards from his mom's home.
Just under three weeks later, five officers were fired and indicted for crimes including second-degree murder, which is punishable by between 15 to 60 years in prison. Two officers have since been suspended. It is highly unusual for officers to be charged so quickly.
Civil rights attorneys say swift charges must become common practice in order to stop police brutality.
Guests:
Joshua Adams, organizer with Decarcerate Memphis
Tianna Mays Smith, associate director for the Criminal Justice Project at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law