Tyre Nichols death: Kamala Harris to attend funeral as seven Memphis officers suspended after beating video released

In a fiery speech, civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton compared the Memphis police officer who violently beat Tyre Nichols to a group of gang members.

“We talk a lot about street gang bangers and what colors they wear,” he said in a statement Tuesday night.

Activists also called on state and federal officials to pass sweeping police reform.

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Al Sharpton blamed those who worried protesters would turn violent following the police killing of Tyre Nichols.

“It’s nerve-wracking to ask if there is violence,” Sharpton said in a speech Tuesday. “There’s already a riot, so we’re having a funeral tomorrow because you beat an unarmed man.”

The civil rights activist said he and his fellow organizers would not stop until federal action was taken to stop police violence. Referenced his historic “I’ve been to the mountaintop” speech he gave at Temple, adding, “I’ll keep going until the tires can make it to Martin’s mountaintop.” The family is standing now “That’s why I wanted to stand in this sacred place.”

NAACP Memphis President Van D. Turner Jr. also called on state officials to pass the recently proposed Tyre-Nichols Criminal Justice Reform Bill.

Civil rights activist Al Sharpton called the police killing of Tyre Nichols “disgraceful” at Tuesday night’s event ahead of Nichols’ funeral tomorrow.

“What happened to the tires is a disgrace to this country,” Sharpton said Tuesday.

“We talk a lot about street gang bangers and the colors they wear,” he added.

Religious leaders and civil rights activists at Tuesday night’s event pointed out parallels between the civil rights era of Martin Luther King Jr. and the current era of Black Lives Matter.

Bishop Brandon Porter of The Church of God in Christ said Tuesday from the historic Masonic Temple in Memphis, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his final speech before his assassination, saying, “The need for justice is mine.” brought us here again.

He was joined by the family of Tyre Nichols, who was beaten to death by police earlier this month.

Bishop Porter also commended the efforts of Memphis officials who swiftly fired and prosecuted the officers involved in Nichols’ murder, and thanked Nichols’ family for their messages of peace.

“I am grateful to see you speak peace to troubled nations,” the bishop said, adding, “This is a pivotal time for America to come together to ensure justice for all.” ‘ added.

The Tyre Nichols family is expected to address anytime from the historic Mason Temple in Memphis. There, Martin Luther King made his last speech before his junior Dr. Jr. was assassinated.

Civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton and civil rights attorney Ben Crump will also be attending the event.

Watch their remarks live here.

Nichols, who died after being severely beaten by police earlier this month, will be buried Wednesday at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis, where Mr Sharpton will offer a eulogy.

The five police officers involved in Tyre Nichols’ brutal beating, Tadarius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith, were fired on January 20 and subsequently charged with second-degree murder. rice field.

Another officer, Preston Hemphill, was suspended along with an unidentified seventh officer.

Here’s what we know about them:

Nearly an hour of footage showing Memphis police officers firing pepper spray, batons, punching, kicking and tasing helped swiftly file murder charges against the officers involved. Independent‘s Bevan Hurley explains what the footage captures:

The only known white police officer involved in the brutal beating and subsequent death of Tyre Nichols was “protected and protected” by the Memphis Police Department, the family’s attorney said in a statement.

The former president was speaking to the Associated Press during his campaign in South Carolina a day after the release of horrific footage showing a mob of Memphis police officers brutally beating a 29-year-old. dealt with Tyre Nichols’ lethal blow.

Rev Al Sharpton, Attorney Ben Crump, President of the NAACP Memphis Chapter Van Turner and Tyre Nichols’ family have updated the latest developments in his death case and recently announced seven Memphis police officers and three paramedics. Discuss disciplinary action involving kill.

They address the media from the historic Mason Temple in Memphis, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his final speech before his murder.

They will also be joined by other alleged victims of the now disbanded SCORPION unit. Coalition, which began in November 2021, included his 40 police officers spread across four teams, patrolling “crime-ridden hotspots” in the city, but overuse of force and It was facing a wave of civil rights violation accusations.

The press conference is scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm Central Time.