Police in the city, in the state of Tennessee (south), pointed out in a press release that it distributed that “it is in everyone’s best interest” to “finally disband” this unit.
The Memphis police department announced yesterday Saturday that the Scorpion special unit is being disbanded, five former members of which were involved in the fatal beating of a young African-American man, an incident whose videos shocked the country.
Police in the city, in the state of Tennessee (south), pointed out in a press release that it distributed that “it is in everyone’s best interest” to “finally disband” this unit.
“The police officers who belong” to it “unreservedly agreed”, the announcement added.
Tyree Nichols’ family praised the decision in a press release issued by their attorneys, calling it “appropriate and commensurate with the tragic death of Tyree Nichols” and “just” for “all citizens of Memphis.”
The shocking images of the violent arrest of the 29-year-old by five black police officers caused horror, shock and confusion in the US, but not — so far — a social explosion comparable to that of the summer of 2020, as authorities had feared.
Following the death of Tyree Nichols in early January, the family has not stopped appealing for peace. Before the video was made public yesterday Friday, which was broadcast live and without cuts by American television networks, US President Joe Biden called the young man’s mother and stepfather, appealing at the same time for the protests to be peaceful.
“Opportunity”
Gatherings of a few dozen to a few hundred people took place last Friday night in Memphis itself, New York and Washington, among others. No episodes mentioned.
On Saturday afternoon, braving the rain and cold, dozens of protesters gathered in front of Memphis’ imposing city hall.
“Memphis has an opportunity to be a model for responding to acts like this,” said Councilman Jay B. Smiley, addressing the crowd, which demanded police reform.
Chanting “without justice there is no peace” and carrying placards demanding “justice for Tyree Nichols”, the protesters marched through the city’s otherwise quiet streets.
Brutal beating
Earlier, residents expressed their outrage after watching the video of the beating of the youth.
Robert Jones, 26, a shop assistant in the center, saw some of the footage.
“Even though it’s a new year, things haven’t changed,” he pointedly commented, referring to police brutality.
Videos released by police captured the brutal beating after a routine check on Jan. 7 on a Memphis street. With punches, with kicks, with batons, the police burst upon Tyre Nichols, who did not resist at any time, tried to escape, but was stopped. In one of the clips, she can be heard shouting “mama”.
The 29-year-old African-American died three days later at a Memphis hospital.
Police “culture”
The five police officers were arrested, charged with murder and remanded in custody. The four were released on bail.
On Friday, despite the horror they have yet to overcome, members of Tyree Nicholls’ family expressed “satisfaction” with the charges brought against the four officers and the “speed” of the measures against them.
“It could have been me” in Tyre Nichols’ shoes, said Demarcus Carter, a 36-year-old African-American resident of Memphis. He also noted that he expected the protests to be larger.
However, when the trial is held, if the verdict is not what it should be, “the protests will be much bigger,” he predicted.
The new death in custody has reignited the debate in the US about police brutality and served as a painful reminder of the case of George Floyd, who was killed in 2020 by a white police officer, and the feeling that despite the massive protests that followed, nothing was done to address the problem.
Ben Crump, who is part of the team of lawyers who have taken it upon themselves to represent the family of Tyr Nichols — he had also represented the family of George Floyd — spoke of an “institutionalized police culture.”
“Regardless” of whether a police officer “is black, Hispanic, or white,” Mr. Crump explained on MSNBC, “there are unwritten rules that if someone is of a certain racial group, they can be dealt with using excessive force.”
RES-EMP
Read the News today and get the latest news.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news.
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
_175639.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1)
