Karanja A. Ajanaku
Sunset Canopy anchors Tyre Nichols’ memory, family to a place he loved
Sunsets captured by a photographer hint at the renewal inherent in sunrises and bring to mind the cycle of life of which both are points of reference.
Circumstances so tragic and seared in minds worldwide have people embracing Memphis amateur photographer Tyre D. Nichols and...
‘If we don’t get it! Shut it down!’
On the bed of a pickup truck parked in the protest-blocked intersection of Poplar Ave. and Danny Thomas Blvd., L.J. Abraham was gazing westward toward the heart of Downtown Memphis when asked what she was thinking at that very moment.
“That I hope this applies...
Police reform highlighted in ‘prebuttal’ to Gov. Lee’s State of the State address
With Gov. Bill Lee set to deliver his fifth State of the State address on Monday, House Democratic Leader Karen Camper is calling upon Gov. Bill Lee and the Republican supermajority to join state Democrats in their efforts to end police brutality.
Lee will address...
Seizing the funeral of ‘Tyre’ as an African American history moment
What a way to start the observance of African American History Month. With the nation and myriad parts of the world watching, and the Vice President of the United States – the first African American woman to serve from that position – in attendance,...
Standing with Tyre’s family on the eve of his funeral
It would have been perfectly understandable if the family of Tyre D. Nichols had chosen not to come to Mason Temple on the cold, icy night that was the eve of his funeral. However, they were there because it was another important step in...
JUSTICE FOR TYRE: NAACP seeks subpoena-powered community oversight board; sixth officer relieved of duty
With the pursuit of “justice for Tyre” warranting a multi-pronged approach, a call for a “community oversight board that has subpoena power” was issued Sunday by Gloria Sweetlove, president of the Tennessee State Conference of the NAACP.
In Memphis, she teamed with the Memphis Branch...
SLIDESHOW: In the streets for Tyre!
In pursuit of "Justice for Tyre!" -- part of a bigger and ongoing push -- for many, protesters took the streets in Memphis following the public release Friday night of video footage showing a quintet of officers from the now-defunct police SCORPION Unit inhumanely...
MPD breaks up its SCORPION Unit
A day after standing firm on continuing the Memphis Police Department’s SCORPION unit, MPD Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis reversed course.
“In the process of listening intently to the family of Tyre Nichols, community leaders, and the uninvolved officers who have done quality work in their...
‘Horrific does not even begin to explain the video’
Sandwiched between a morning call to disband the police SCORPION unit and protesters who shut down the “old bridge” on I-55 in the evening, the release of video footage showing the inhumane police beating of Tyre D. Nichols was as hard to stomach as...
TSD BLOG: Pending release of video prompts ‘public safety’ moves
With Friday's scheduled release of video footage of the beating of Tyre D. Nichols, Memphis-Shelby County Schools is altering the schedule of planned activities and some area businesses have announced earlier closings.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Tyre Nichols, and those...