US NEWS
Tyre Nichols bodycam footage released shows five officers beating him
The violently common occurence of police brutality in the US has been highlighted once again with the images released on a night of high tension.
Fiv Memphis police officers “brought same to their families” said RowVaughn Wells, the mother of Tyre Nichols who died of injuries sustained after being beaten and kicked in a traffic stop.
All five police officers are facing murder charges for the attack. All five were sacked as footage was to be released as well as two of the sheriff’s deputies after the footage was published.
According to data collection by Mapping Police Violence, black people in the US are around three times more likely to be killed compared to white people.
What happens in the footage?
Four clips were released to the public.
“I didn’t do anything!” he says. .
“Get on the [expletive] ground!” one officer shouts, as another is heard saying: “Tase him!”
An officer shouts, “Put your hands behind your back before I break your [expletive].”
“You guys are really doing a lot right now,” Nichols says. “I’m just trying to go home.”
He is then tasered but makes his way to his feet to try and escape.
Another clip shows CCTV footage of multiple officers beating, kicking, swining batons while Nichols lies on the floor calling for his mother.
There were approximately 10 officers on the scene and not one attempted to intervene.
What has the response been?
Tyre Nichols family spoke to CNN after criminal charges were brought.
“They have put their own families in harm’s way. They have brought shame to their own families. They brought shame to the Black community,” RowVaughn Wells said through tears. “I feel sorry for them. I really do. I really feel sorry for them, because they didn’t have to do this.”
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy released a statement to coincide with the release of the videos.
He ackowledged, “for some, the video may be hard to watch... The video was released because it was important to the community and to Tyre’s family, as they want the world to be their witness and feel their pain.”
Protestors gathered on Friday night in opposition to police violence. While Nichols should get justice by the fact the attack was caught on camera, thousands of Americans are killed by police each year with few prosecutions.
President Joe Biden also published a statement calling for “peaceful protest.”