At a funeral service in Memphis, hundreds of people said goodbye to African-American Tire Nichols, who was beaten to death by American police officers. At the ceremony at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris offered her condolences to the 29-year-old’s family. “We mourn with you and the people of our country mourn with you.”
The first black female vice president in US history condemned the brutal beating of five black police officers against Nichols as an “act of violence” by those who should be responsible for security. The Democratic Party politician also called on Congress to pass a law against police brutality named after George Floyd, who was killed in a brutal police operation in Minneapolis in 2020.
President “Joe Biden will sign it and we shouldn’t delay it,” Harris said. The bill has long failed in Congress due to opposition from conservative Republicans.
Floyd’s relatives at the funeral service
Family members of Floyd and other victims of police brutality also attended the ceremony in Memphis, Tennessee. The eulogy was delivered by noted civil rights activist Al Sharpton, who called for violent police officers to be held accountable.
Police check ended in death
Police officers brutally beat Nichols during an evening traffic stop in Memphis on Jan. 7. The 29-year-old died three days later in a hospital.
Last week, five police officers fired after the incident were charged with manslaughter. In Tennessee, this corresponds to an intermediate stage between murder and manslaughter. Like the victim, the five men, who belonged to a now-defunct Memphis Police Department special unit, are African American. Authorities released video footage of the incident on Friday. However, the unrest feared by the authorities failed to materialise.
Deadly police brutality
In the US, deadly police brutality against black people continues to cause horror and outrage. Often – though not in the case of Tire Nichols – white cops are the perpetrators.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
