The United States is once again in turmoil after a serious case of police violence: demonstrations broke out in several cities across the country this weekend, following the publication of a video documenting black police officers beating to death a black man, who was allegedly arrested for a traffic violation in the city of Memphis earlier this month. All the police officers were fired and charged with murder.
The incident happened in the evening on January 7. The Memphis police initially claimed that Tyree Nichols (29) was detained for reckless driving, and that a physical confrontation broke out between him and the officers. Nicholas, a father of three, was taken to the hospital, where he died three days later.
The Memphis Police Department launched an internal investigation, and the Department of Justice also began looking into the incident. Examination of the video from the scene failed to prove the claims of reckless driving, and it was decided to fire all the officers involved and charge all five with second degree murder. Also, the Scorpion unit, to which the policemen belonged and which was designed to patrol areas prone to violence and crime in the city, was disbanded.
On Friday evening, the police released the video of the incident, as recorded by the officers’ body cameras and security cameras from the area. Two officers were seen pulling Nichols from the car as he exclaimed: “Damn it, I didn’t do anything,” adding: “I just want to get home.”
The police laid Nicholas on the ground, but he managed to escape and started running towards his mother’s house. A police officer fired at him with a taser gun, and in the next clip, officers were seen shackling Nichols to the ground. Then the policemen started hitting and kicking him, while calling “mom”. The officers also fired at Nichols who continued to call “Mama, Ma”.
In the following minutes, the policemen continued to beat Nicholas severely, and at one point lifted him up, then one of the policemen hit him at least five times in the head – and Nicholas fell. In the end, they strapped him into the car, while paramedics arrived to treat him and evacuate him in an ambulance.
After the publication of the video, demonstrations broke out in many cities, including in New York and Atlanta, and it was reported that there was an intention to organize another protest in the coming days. The White House held talks with the mayors of major cities to prepare for protests, and President Joe Biden issued a statement calling for non-violent protest.