RIGHT NOW - members of the skateboard community are in front of Memphis City Hall showing support for the family of #TyreNichols
More at 11 on @WMCActionNews5 twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
More at 11 on @WMCActionNews5 twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
We’re at Mt. Olive Church now, where we’re expected to hear from family attorney Ben Crump following their meeting with city officials.
Stick with @WMCActionNews5 for live coverage.
Stick with @WMCActionNews5 for live coverage.
The family of #TyreNichols has arrived @WMCActionNews5
Attorney Ben Crump starts by thanking activists and community leaders here in Memphis. He says “you all in the community are the first defenders—first responders—for justice in the community.”
Crump “he was a good man, a good young man. This was a good kid.” Crump also says skateboarding was a big part of his life - he thanked the skateboarding community for their support
Crump said Tyre’s mother couldn’t get through the first minute of the video. He says Tyre asked, “what did I do?”
Crump says the video is appalling, deplorable and heinous.
His co-council calls the video violent and troublesome.
His co-council calls the video violent and troublesome.
Crump - “you should not be killed for a simple traffic stop…”
Crump - “we have to make sure there’s justice for Tyre because we want to prevent this from happening to anybody else in Memphis, Tennessee.”
Says they met with Mayor Strickland and said he promised transparency. Says they also met MPD Chief Davis, says she was very emotional -
Says they met with Mayor Strickland and said he promised transparency. Says they also met MPD Chief Davis, says she was very emotional -
Also says, that Chief Davis says she was not proud of what the family was about to see in that video.
Crump said the video “reminded them of the Rodney King video, regrettably.”
Crump said the video “reminded them of the Rodney King video, regrettably.”
Crump on the officers being African American - “it is not the race of the police officer that is the determinable factor of the amount of excessive force that is being exerted, it is the race of the citizen. “
Attorney Antonio Romanucci says Tyre was defenseless the entire time. He was a human piñata. Calls it a nonstop beating for 3 minutes. Tyre’s mother is crying now.
Attorney Romanucci says the officers were from the organized crime unit. He asks WHY were conducting traffic stops?
Romanucci - “When is this going to stop?” “We must stop this.”
He shares that they met with DA and are encouraged they’ll do the right thing. Is asking people to exercise patience as the process goes on.
Attorney Romanucci also says - they’re conducting their OWN civil investigation and will do whatever they can to ensure it never happens again. He says it’s time to demand policy changes.
Crump back at podium - says at some point it must become about humanity for your fellow human being.
He tells us Tyre said “I just want to go home.”
He tells us Tyre said “I just want to go home.”
Crump says Tyre was only 80-100 yards from his home. He said he calls for his mother in the video.
NAACP Prez Van Turner is up now - he reflects on past similar situation in Memphis. He questions “why this keeps happening over and over again …”
Turner “we’re angry and we’re angry at the government. Why can’t we stop it?” Thanks the elected leaders who are in the room. Acknowledges the city council members, & state senators/representatives who are here.
Turner - “We’re here to show this family that Tyre Nichols death will not be in vain.” He says they’re here to make sure this doesn’t happen again in a year. References #8cantwait policy.
Chants “We will see, what they did to Tyre.”
Tyre’s father Rodney Wells is speaking now. He’s asking for PEACEFUL protest and says what he saw on the video today was horrific.
“No father should have to witness what I saw today.”
“No father should have to witness what I saw today.”
His father says, he recently told Tyre “put the skateboard down, you getting to old.” But he says it was his passion.
He says “Tyre didn’t deserve what he got, now what he deserves is justice.” He reiterates that “justice for them is murder 1.”
He says “Tyre didn’t deserve what he got, now what he deserves is justice.” He reiterates that “justice for them is murder 1.”
Tyre’s mother is speaking now - “I know everybody say they son is good, my son really was a good boy.” “He liked to skateboard.”
Says he’d go to Starbucks, go to work with his father, they’d come home at 7 every day for lunch.
Says he’d go to Starbucks, go to work with his father, they’d come home at 7 every day for lunch.
Says skating has been his passion since he was 6 years old.
His mom also says he’d often go to Shleby farms to watch the sunset and take pictures.
On Sunday’s, she says, he’d wash his clothes and prepare for the next week.
She says no one is perfect but “he was damn near”
His mom also says he’d often go to Shleby farms to watch the sunset and take pictures.
On Sunday’s, she says, he’d wash his clothes and prepare for the next week.
She says no one is perfect but “he was damn near”
“All I know is my son Tyre is not here with me anymore … he’ll never walk through that door and say ‘hello parent.”
She says “he was less than 80 yards away when they murdered him.”
She says “he was less than 80 yards away when they murdered him.”
She says she’s a hurt mother. “No mother … should go through this…”
“I just don’t understand why we have to have all this violence in the world … what happened to all the humanity and kindness?”
Tyre’s mother says they’ll get justice for her son if that’s the last breath she takes.
Tyre’s mother says they’ll get justice for her son if that’s the last breath she takes.
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