For Tyre Nichols
Once again, we have witnessed the brutal murder of a young, Black man at the hands of police – Tyre Nichols’ death has provoked outrage and horror. The hour-long video capturing the viciousness of the attack he endured, has shaken people who have become used to such scenes of violence at the hands of police.
Across the country people gathered in sympathy and solidarity with Nichols’ family. Cities saw demonstrations and vigils. In classrooms, churches, and coffee houses people are again pausing to remember Mr. Nichols and his family and to consider how to bring an end to this violence. Black parents are engaging in painful conversations with their children about how to be safe in America, knowing that the most ordinary of things can lead to death.
For some, Mr. Nichols’ death is a reminder of how little has changed. In fact, since 2015 when the Washington Post first started keeping data on fatal police shootings, the number of people dying at the hands of police had consistently been around 1,000 people a year. Last year was the deadliest year on record, with 1,096 people killed across America by police. Such cynicism would be yet another assault on Tyre Nichols and his family.
Within this past week, much had been written about the swift, decisive response by Memphis city officials. Within days after the death of Mr. Nichols, the five officers responsible had not only been fired from the police force, but they had been charged with second degree murder. The video footage of the beating that led to his death was released to the public and the unit responsible disbanded. The Chief of Police, Cerelyn Davis, has condemned the actions as “a failing of basic humanity.” She has consistently met with activists in the city as well as family members.
Memphis is a city that has a long tradition of organizing for justice. Davis was selected in 2021 as Chief during widespread efforts to push for reform in the criminal justice system there. She is not only the first Black woman to hold this job, but she is the first person selected from outside of the department in more than four decades.
Prior to coming to Memphis, she had been an outspoken leader for police reform. After the murder of George Floyd, Davis testified before Congress saying, “Though it is very important that the Minneapolis officers involved are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, it is just as important that we address the systemic shortcomings and oftentimes failures of our law enforcement and criminal justice systems.”
Likewise, Steven Mulroy, the district attorney who brought murder charges against the officers, was just recently elected as a reform candidate. A progressive democrat, he defeated the conservative incumbent who had held office for more than a decade. Mulroy called for extensive reforms and has a long history championing civil rights.
The shift to some measure of swift justice is no accident, nor is it the product of a few individual choices. It reflects the power of the movement of people to organize for change and to challenge the very foundations of policing in this country.
Change is coming. Memphis shows us both the power of people and the limitations of reform to a system that is infused with brutality and dedicated to protecting a culture steeped in violence. For Tyre Nichols, and all those who have come before him, we must continue to seek new ways of caring for our collective safety and well-being.