Five former police officers were indicted Thursday in the killing of Tire Nichols. President Joe Biden has asked people to demonstrate peacefully when the video of the arrest is released.
The United States is preparing for protests today, Friday, when the authorities release a video of the arrest that led to the death of a young black man.
Tire Nichols, 29, was seriously injured when police arrested him on January 7 in Memphis, Tennessee. Nichols died of his injuries three days later.
The arrest was recorded on the police bodycam. According to lawyers for the Nichols family, the video shows Nichols being brutally beaten.
– It was a direct beating of a young man for three minutes straight, lawyer Antonio Romanucci said of the British broadcasting company BBC (you will switch to another service) by.
Superintendent of the Tennessee State Police David Rausch on the other hand, described the events in the video as nauseating and the actions of the arresting policemen as “truly horrific”.
Five police officers have been fired because of the incident, and yesterday Thursday they were charged with, among other things, manslaughter. The police are black.
The detainee complained that he could not breathe
According to a lawyer for Nichols’ family, police arrested Nichols as he was returning home after filming the sunset at a local park.
According to authorities, Nichols was suspected of endangering traffic.
Nichols tried to flee on foot when officers approached his car, according to authorities. In this case, the police used force for the first time. Officers also used force when they tried to arrest Nichols.
Police said Nichols later complained of shortness of breath and was taken to the hospital.
According to a lawyer for Nichols’ family, police bodycam footage shows Nichols being gassed and tasered, handcuffed and kicked.
The lawyer compared the events Rodney King assault in Los Angeles in 1992.
King, who is black, was beaten by white police officers after stopping him for speeding. The court interpreted the policemen as innocent, after which widespread violent demonstrations broke out in Los Angeles.
Police violence in the United States has been in the world headlines in recent years as well, for example of George Floyd because of the incident. Floyd died in May 2020 due to police brutality. The death sparked widespread protests against police brutality and racism.
The video was released on Friday evening
Memphis authorities plan to release video of the arrest Friday night local time.
Police are preparing for protests and have increased patrols in Memphis. Police departments across the country are reporting news channel for CNN (you will switch to another service)that they either follow the events in Memphis closely or prepare for possible unrest.
For example, in Atlanta, police work shifts have been extended and holidays have been cancelled, CNN reports.
A candlelight vigil was held in Memphis on Thursday night in memory of Nichols.
Nichols’ family has appealed to people to keep the protests peaceful. Also the President of the United States Joe Biden has asked the protesters to be calm.
Sources: Reuters, AP