Central Florida leaders hold vigil for Tyr Nichols in Orlando

ORLANDO, Florida. — National and state lawmakers held a candlelight picket over the weekend to honor Tyre Nichols, who died after being beaten by former Memphis police officers.

Shouting Tyre Nichols’ name and holding candles, dozens of demonstrators gathered in Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando on Saturday to pay tribute to the 29-year-old.

One demonstrator said: “We are here today because we all know that Tyre Nichols deserved to live, we know that everyone who died at the hands of police brutality and gun violence should be here today.”

Nichols died early last month after being beaten by five former Memphis cops. They were all fired and charged with his murder.

The Saturday vigil was preceded by protests across the country last month after videos were released showing Nichols’ final moments.

At his funeral this week, the vice president called on Congress to pass the George Floyd policing bill.

“We have to be honest. Elections have consequences,” said Maxwell Frost.

US Rep. Maxwell Frost says he doesn’t expect legislation to pass in the next two years, saying the Democratic Party simply doesn’t have the numbers.

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Frost says former Memphis officers were already highly trained and had body cameras, but says both are still needed to get results.

“It shows me that we need more, and I don’t know exactly what it looks like, but we need a conversation to figure it out,” Frost said.

A conversation that some demonstrators hope will take place soon.

“You just go day by day, you want to stop it. You want to stop reading these names, you want to stop seeing these videos coming up again, you just have to keep going,” said Jadyn Winston.

State Rep. Anna Escamany called on people to become more politically involved, saying the way forward is one that should be walked with the community as well as law enforcement.

“At the end of the day, you ask the average person, they want to be able to call 911 and get help, that’s clear, but they also want to feel safe around the police, and the reality is that not everyone feels safe around police. Escamani said.

Now a group of black Democrats has met with President Joe Biden to discuss police reform.

They have not released details of this conversation at this time, but noted that they would need assistance from the other side of the aisle to get the bill across the finish line.

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