Van Jones on Tire Nichols video: Cruel, inhuman, ‘dog being beaten’ should have needed more help

CNN contributor Van Jones said Friday on “Anderson Cooper 360” that the “beaten dog” would have received more help by reacting to a video released by the Memphis Police Department showing the beating of Tyre Nichols.

Jones said: “Cruel, inhuman, unacceptable, unjustifiable. I mean, he’s just now getting attention. Someone would help a beaten dog at this moment. Also, you know, let’s talk about images. The voices are so telling. Tyra’s voice, the first time you hear it, it’s calm. He tries to appease the police. He says okay, okay, okay. It comes from the voice of reason and tranquility. They are so cruel to him that he runs away. The next time you hear it, you will go from calm to panic. Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma! Scream about your mother. He’s a hundred yards from his house, hoping someone can help him. And then he goes from a voice of calm to panic to agony, completely incoherent. Can’t form a word. You are watching this deterioration of the human being.”

He continued, “And then the voices of the cops, obscene, ‘I hope they kick his ass,’ an incredible level of brutality. And compassion for yourself. Because they’re so busy pepper spraying him that they’re pepper spraying each other. Look at the police reaction to the pepper spray. They can’t stand the burning sensation. They need help from each other and yet it goes on for someone else and no help for someone else who got the full power of pepper spray.”