Virginia politicians react to footage of Tire Nichols on Twitter
“Another horrifying video of a black man being beaten to death and dehumanized by PEACE officers who have sworn to protect us. Tire Nichol’s life was stolen. For nothing! Anger, sadness, and prayer are beautiful, but we have the power and responsibility to change policies and procedures. Let’s do that!”
— Virginia House Minority Leader Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth
“As we process these harrowing events, I ask those exercising their First Amendment right to do so peacefully. We will ensure Virginians’ first amendment rights while prioritizing and protecting the security of the Commonwealth and all Virginians. We can choose to come together and not push the divide further.”
My statement on Tire Nichols’ fatal attack: pic.twitter.com/qpXtRwvclO
— Governor Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA) January 28, 2023
— Governor Glenn Youngkin, Republican
“Sick of the murder of Tire Nichols. Let’s gather to pray for his loved ones and peacefully seek justice. Let us pass our Police Justice Act to address police misconduct. Far too many black Americans have been victims of police brutality — we cannot be spectators.”
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— US Senator Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.
President Joe Biden spoke to Tire Nichols’ parents, according to a video posted to Twitter by a Washington Post reporter. In the short video, which the reporter says was a 10-minute call, Biden spoke about the deaths of his wife and son.
“Tyre Nichols was supposed to be with his family today. Instead, he was brutally beaten to death by the very people responsible for keeping their community safe. It is time to ensure that our justice system lives up to our ideals. We need to pass meaningful police reform.”
— Senator Mark Warner, D-Va.
“As a mom, it really breaks my heart to hear #TyreNichols call out for his mom. No person, no family should have to suffer like this. Truly devastating and tragic for Tyre, his family, friends, loved ones and our nation. Tire Nichols should be alive today.”
10. January: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says the man involved in the altercation with Memphis officials “succumbed to his injuries” and identifies him as 29-year-old Tire D. Nichols, a black man.
Courtesy of the Nichols family via AP
— Del. Eileen Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, former Speaker of the Virginia House of Representatives
“I’ve had to sit with too many families experiencing the same heartache and cruelty. We MUST stop destroying each other.”
— Former Governor of Virginia Justin Fairfax
Here is the timeline of events leading up to the arrest and death of Tire Nichols – and what followed
January 7, 2023
January 7: Tire Nichols is pulled over by police for an alleged traffic violation after photographing a sunset, according to reports his family would later give. A confrontation ensues and he is brutally beaten by five Memphis police officers in an encounter recorded by police body cameras.
City of Memphis via AP
January 8th
January 8: Memphis Police Department said in a statement officers tried to pull over a man on Jan. 7 for reckless driving and he was taken to a hospital in critical condition after two altercations. The first description of what happened says that a confrontation ensued as officers approached the vehicle and the suspect fled on foot. Officers gave chase and another confrontation ensued when they took him into custody, police said. The subject complained of shortness of breath and was taken to a hospital. Because of his condition, police contacted the Shelby County Attorney General’s Office, who requested the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to conduct an investigation using force.
Memphis Police Department Facebook
10. January
10. January: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says the man involved in the altercation with Memphis officials “succumbed to his injuries” and identifies him as 29-year-old Tire D. Nichols, a black man.
Courtesy of the Nichols family via AP
January 14th
January 14: Nichols’ family, friends and supporters are protesting outside a Memphis police station, urging police to release body camera video of the arrest. Nichols’ stepfather, Rodney Wells, told local media that his stepson suffered cardiac arrest and kidney failure after being beaten by officers.
Jordan James/WREG via AP
15. January
15. January: Police Chief Cerelyn Davis says she reviewed information about the encounter and decided to take immediate action by notifying officers involved of policy violations.
AP file
January 16
January 16: Civil rights attorney Ben Crump announces he’s representing the Nichols family and is urging police to release the body camera and surveillance video from the traffic stop. Meanwhile, protesters gather at the Civil Rights Museum to urge the release of a police video and call for the officers to be charged.
AP file
January 18th
January 18: The US Department of Justice announces that it has opened a civil rights investigation.
AP file
January 20th
January 20: The five officers involved in the arrest are being fired after an internal investigation found they used excessive force, failed to intervene and rendered no assistance. They are identified as Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith. All five are black.
January 23
January 23: Nichols’ family views police video with their lawyers, who say it shows Nichols being beaten for three minutes in a “savage” encounter reminiscent of the infamous 1991 police beating of motorist Rodney King in Los Angeles remind. Video shows Nichols shocked, pepper sprayed and restrained after being dragged from his home for over minutes while returning from a suburban park where he was taking photos of the sunset. Crump says the family agreed to investigators’ request to delay the video’s release so as not to risk jeopardizing the criminal investigation.
AP file
January 24th
January 24: Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy says the release of the police video will be carefully timed to avoid the possibility that suspects or witnesses will base their statements on what they saw in it and is asking for the public’s patience. The schedule angers activists who expected the video to be released after Nichols’ family saw it. Meanwhile, the Memphis Fire Department says two employees involved in providing first aid to Nichols the night of his arrest have been removed from duty while the agency conducts an investigation.
AP file
January 25th
January 25: Davis, the police chief, called the officers’ actions “despicable, inconsiderate and inhumane” and called on people to protest peacefully if the video is released. She says in a statement posted to social media that other officers are still under investigation for violating department policies and that a “full and independent review” of the department’s special forces is underway.
AP file
January 26th
January 26: The five officers are accused of murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, misconduct and suppression of office. Mulroy says they each played different roles in the murder, but “they are all responsible.” Mulroy also announces that video of the traffic stop will be released to the public the following evening. Nichols’ parents say they are happy with the charges against the officers. At an evening candlelight vigil, Nichols’ mother implores supporters to “protest in peace” when the “horrifying” video footage is released.
AP file
January 27th
January 27: Memphis authorities are releasing video footage showing Nichols being beaten by five officers who repeatedly hit him with their fists, boots and batons while he yells for his mother. The video is riddled with violent moments as the cops, who are also black, chase and beat Nichols, leaving him on the sidewalk propped up against a squad car while they fist bump and celebrate their actions. Demonstrators are gathering in mostly peaceful demonstrations in several cities, including Memphis, New York and Washington.
AP file
