ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Authorities on Friday released police video of five Memphis, Tennessee, officers beating a Black man, who died three days after the Jan. 7 traffic stop.
The five officers, all of whom are Black, were charged with murder in the death of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols. His killing sparked outrage at another case of of police brutality.
“It has to do with a larger systemic issue within America,” said Mike Holmes with the Racial Justice Coalition of Asheville. “It’s hard to change the minds of people. You can change policies but it’s hard to change minds. The perfect thing or the nice thing is hopefully we can get more people that reflect the community policing the community. We have to change the hearts and minds of the people that are serving and protecting us.”
Protests were planned in Asheville and across the country in anticipation of the video's release.
'THEY WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE,' ATTORNEY SAYS OF OFFICERS ACCUSED OF KILLING TYRE NICHOLS
“People are pissed off, fed up of police terror across the country,” said Evan Branan, with Party for Socialism and Liberation – Asheville. “People are coming out to demand justice.”
Party for Socialism and Liberation - Asheville and about 20 demonstrators gathered at Pack Square, calling for "justice for Tyre Nichols and an end to racist police terror!"
“This is not an isolated incident. We’re out here to demand justice,” Asheville chapter's Evan Branan said. “We’re going to be remembering Tyre Nichols for who he was and that all five officers get fully convicted on all charges.”
"We are closely monitoring the events in Memphis, and, in light of the possibility of unrest downtown, the department will have extra officers throughout the Central Business District. We want to ensure the safety of all and protect lives and property," Asheville Police Department spokesperson Samantha Booth said in a statement issued Friday afternoon.
FAMILY OF TYRE NICHOLS, LEADERS NATIONWIDE CALL FOR PEACE AHEAD OF ARREST VIDEO RELEASE
“Police and the state(s) now fear the power of protest movements and the power of the people when they take to the streets,” said Branan. “That’s why we see the police acting so swiftly around the murder of Tyre Nichols. This is why we’re taking to the streets -- because we know, unless we put the pressure on them like we did for George Floyd, we’re not going to get a full conviction for all five police officers that killed Tyre Nichols like we want.”
In Hendersonville, Police Chief Blair Myhand planned to react to the release of Memphis Police Department’s footage of the incident in a Facebook Live event.
Click here to join him online.
'HORRIFIC' VIDEO OF TYRE NICHOLS' BEATING RELEASED
"It’s important that they're being transparent about it and allowing people to see what’s happening,” Mike Holmes, the canvassing director for Racial Justice Coalition of Asheville, said ahead of the video release.
Holmes said he was encouraged that the officers involved in Nichols' arrest had already been charged.
"Accountability is happening. What’s important is transparency and accountability moving forward,” Holmes said.
He said he thinks protests and demonstrations are inevitable.
“I think there’s always going to be unrest. Everybody is affected by police brutality. It’s not just certain communities. It affects all of us. It’s just a natural part of events like this,” Holmes said.
He said he thinks it's a matter of people wanting to feel safe.
“They just want to feel like when law enforcement comes into their neighborhoods, they’re not being perceived as a threat on both sides. Not just the communities themselves feeling like there’s a threat when cops are coming into their neighborhoods but also for cops to be able to know the people that are in that community," Holmes said. "Being able to have community outreach, learn who you’re serving is a really important part of that job."
A timeline of the events in the Tyre Nichols case:
- Jan. 7, 2023 - Nichols was pulled over by Memphis police officers for suspected reckless driving around 8:30 p.m., according to the Memphis Police Department. A confrontation occurred between Nichols and officers. An ambulance was called to the scene. Nichols complained of shortness of breath and was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition
- Jan. 10, 2023 - Nichols died from his injuries. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced Nichols died because of injuries sustained in the use-of-force incident.
- Jan. 15, 2023 - The five officers involved were relieved of duty, pending an investigation, which is standard procedure.
- Jan. 20, 2023 - Five Memphis police officers were fired and named publicly -- Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith.
- Jan. 23, 2023 - Nichols' family viewed police bodycam footage of the confrontation.
- Jan. 26, 2023 - Less than 20 days after Nichols' death, the five police officers were charged with second-degree murder.
- Jan. 27, 2023 - Body camera footage of Nichols' beating was released.
Asheville Police Chief David Zack joined the outcry against the officers involved in the death of Nichols.
He issued the following statement Friday night:
Like many Americans, I am outraged by the video from the Memphis Police Department. The former officers’ actions are horrific, unconscionable, and an embarrassment to the profession of law enforcement.
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Tyre Nichols and the entire community of Memphis.
The Asheville Police Department remains committed to making sure we hire the highest quality candidates by recruiting and thoroughly screening the individuals we are employing. If an officer's behavior is not aligned with our extremely high standards and values my goal as Chief of Police would be to proactively seek to dismiss them before any incidents would occur.
Our officers are trained to treat everyone they encounter with dignity and respect, and we will continue to work hard to make sure those values continue to prevail."
