TV camera footage of Tyre Nichols beating sparked demonstrations in Memphis, New York, D.C.

Following the release of a bodycam video of Tyre Nichols being brutally beaten by Memphis cops, demonstrators in Tennessee, New York and Washington took to major highways to express their outrage.

In Memphis, Tennessee, protesters block a heavily trafficked bridge on Interstate 55, which is one of two major spans connecting Arkansas and Tennessee across the Mississippi River.

Traffic came to a halt on Friday evening.

Protesters could be heard chanting, “Say his name!

memphis-protest.jpg

And in Manhattan, New York, crowds of demonstrators could be seen gathering in and around Times Square.

Protests erupted in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., when one of the demonstrators, speaking into a bullhorn, said: “The only way to get justice for Tyre Nichols … to overthrow this capitalist system is to understand our strength,” the video was filmed. on the Fox News show.

The protests were mostly peaceful, with demonstrators blocking traffic as they chanted and marched through the streets of New York, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon. Several arrests were made in New York City after protesters smashed a police car and clashed with police in Times Square.

GettyImages-1246605080.jpg

READ MORE: Atlanta held a peaceful protest after body camera footage of Tyre Nichols being beaten was released

Christopher Taylor was one of the protesters on the Interstate 55 Bridge in Memphis on Friday. He said he watched the video. The Memphis native said it was terrible that the officers seemed to be laughing as they stood around after the beating.

Protest against police violence in New York

“I cried,” he said. “And then, since I myself am not only a father, but also a son, my mother is still alive, it could be me.”

CONNECTED: Tire Nichols video: D.C. police warn residents not to react aggressively after bodycam footage posted

Demonstrations intensified after Memphis authorities released footage on Friday of police officers repeatedly punching Nichols, boots and clubs while a young father screamed for his mother.

The video is filled with violent moments in which officers, who are also black, harass and beat Nichols and leave him on the sidewalk leaning against a squad car as they punch and celebrate their actions.

Memphis Police Director Serelyn Davis described the officers’ actions as “disgusting, reckless and inhumane” and said her department failed to substantiate the charge of reckless driving that led to the stop and subsequent beating.

In an interview with The Associated Press, she said there was no traffic stop video of Nichols driving recklessly.

During the first stop, the video shows that the officers “have already dispersed, in about 10 minutes,” she said. The officers were “aggressive, loud, used profanity and probably frightened Mr. Nichols from the start.”

Nichols’ mother, RowVon Wells, warned supporters of the “terrifying” nature of the video, but called for peace.

CONNECTED: Tyre Nichols: What do we know about his death and the Memphis officers charged with murder

“I don’t want us to burn down our city, smash the streets, because that’s not what my son stood for,” she said on Thursday. “If you guys are here for me and Tyra, then you will peacefully protest.”

Speaking at the White House, President Joe Biden said on Friday he was “very concerned” at the prospect of violence and urged the protests to remain peaceful.

Biden said he spoke to Nichols’ mother earlier that day and told her he was going to “apply” to Congress to pass the George Floyd bill “to get this under control.” The stalled law is designed to crack down on police misconduct and excessive use of force, and to step up federal and state accountability efforts.

The Associated Press and FOX News contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles.

Content Source

Dallas Press News – Latest News:
Dallas Local News || Fort Worth Local News | Texas State News || Crime and Safety News || National news || Business News || Health News

texasstandard.news contributed to this report.

Related Articles

Back to top button