The funeral of Tire Nichols, a 29-year-old black man who died after being beaten by police in Memphis, USA, takes place this Wednesday (1st) and should be attended by the US vice president, Kamala Harris. The ceremony, however, sheds light on the many unanswered questions that still surround violent death, triggering new protests against racism and police violence.
Protesters and activists demand punishment for perpetrators and public policies that help correct historical inequalities that result in disproportionate violence against blacks and Hispanics in the white-majority country.
Three weeks after Nichols’ death, here’s what’s known about the case so far.
Why was Nichols pulled over by the police? Videos lasting more than an hour were released, but the reasons for the approach of the 29-year-old black man have not yet been clarified.
Filming begins when police stop Nichols at a Memphis intersection at around 8:30 pm local time. The officers involved said he was driving recklessly. But the justification is questioned by authorities who point out the lack of evidence – Nichols’s family claims that he was enrolled in a photography course and had gone out to record the sunset.
At first, the police reported that there was a confrontation, which was also not proven. Upon being tackled, Nichols was dragged out of the car and thrown to the ground by officers with guns drawn. “I didn’t do anything!” shouted the man, according to images recorded by cameras attached to the agents’ uniforms.
Afterwards, an agent can be heard accusing Nichols that he almost crashed his car into a police car. No element proves this version.
Why were the recordings only released almost three weeks after the approach? The images were released last Friday (27). Public relations experts say that meetings were probably held to define how and when the recordings would be released.
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland claimed the video was released after rush hour to lessen the possibility of public demonstrations on city streets. “We’ve had calls from school and business leaders saying, ‘When you release [as imagens]… we’re concerned about our students and staff,'” Strickland told The Commercial Appeal of Tennessee.
The case fueled protests against racism and police violence and was compared to the 2020 murder of George Floyd, who was also a black man. He died in Minneapolis after a police officer suffocated him by pressing his knees against his neck for more than nine minutes. His last words — “I can’t breathe” — became one of the mottos of the movement.
Was Nichols ever rescued? Yes, but investigations point out that rescuers could have done more. The recordings show that the ambulance arrived at the scene 22 minutes after Nichols was beaten, and it is not yet known how long after he arrived at the hospital.
The images also indicate that rescuers were slow and apparently did not consider Nichols’s health condition an emergency. First responders Robert Long and JaMichael Sandridge were fired from the Memphis fire crew. According to the head of the corporation, Gina Sweat, they “failed to conduct proper patient evaluation”.
Michelle Whitaker, the department’s lieutenant, was also terminated. She was driving the ambulance to the scene of the attacks, and did not even get out of the vehicle to help with care. Nichols’ stepfather, Rodney Wells, said first responders are equally to blame for his stepson’s death.
What caused Nichols’ death? An independent autopsy commissioned by the family showed that he had severe bleeding due to the bruises. The full report, however, has not yet been presented.
One photograph shows the man lying in a hospital bed with his eyes heavily swollen. According to the family, Nichols had his neck broken. He reportedly suffered kidney failure and cardiac arrest due to the assaults.
In the video, it is possible to see that an agent punches Nichols in the face at least five times. In another moment, he is hit by two kicks to the head. The agents also used pepper spray and hit them with batons.
Is Memphis a violent city? By American standards, yes. Tennessee, where the city is located, was the fourth state that recorded the most violent crimes in 2021, according to data from the FBI, the American federal police.
In Memphis, police stops are three times more frequent for black people compared to white people, according to a survey by The New York Times. Nearly two-thirds (64.6%) of the city’s population declare themselves black, according to the latest US census.
The cops who killed Nichols were punished? The five police officers who participated in the attacks were fired. All will face allegations of murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping, misconduct and official oppression. All paid bail and will respond to the processes in freedom.
The district attorney in charge of the case said this Tuesday (31) that other charges may be filed against the five police officers and other agents involved. Two corporate members were suspended from the local department, although their involvement in the disastrous approach has not been clarified. They do not respond, for now, for any crime.
On Saturday, the Memphis Police Department closed down the unit responsible for Nichols’s death.
What was the reaction of the politicians Americans? The Congressional Black Caucus, a group of black congressmen in the US Congress, informed that it is negotiating with the White House to hold a meeting to discuss police reform in the country.
President Joe Biden charged congressmen with passing the law named after George Floyd, which provides for a series of police reforms and was blocked in the Senate. There are currently no plans to resume discussions.
Who was Tire Nichols? He was born in the city of Sacramento, in the state of California, and moved to Memphis before the pandemic began. The father of a four-year-old child, he worked at the FedEx postal service company and was enrolled in a photography course. There is no information that he had any previous problems with the police.
Friends and family claim that Nichols was an accomplished skateboarder. He had three older brothers. One of them, Jamal Dupree, described him as outgoing, funny and full of energy.
Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, said her son was affectionate and said he had her name tattooed on his arm. She also said that he had Crohn’s Disease, an inflammatory syndrome of the digestive system. Nichols was around 65 kg, and all the officers who assaulted him were over 90 kg – some were even college football players.
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.
