A rally for justice in the death of Tyre D. Nichols is set for Monday after his family meets with city officials and views video footage of his death.
National Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump, who represents Nichols’ family in wrongful death litigation, will be at the gathering at Mt. Olive Cathedral CME Church, 538 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. It is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Five Memphis Police Department officers were fired on Friday for their part in what Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis said was “the tragic death of Mr. Tyre Nichols.”
Nichols died Jan. 10. Three days earlier around 8:30 p.m., he had a deadly encounter with Memphis police officers near Raines and Ross roads in Hickory Hills.
News of the officers’ firings was released via social media.
“We have promised complete transparency in this case,” said Sgt. Louis Brownlee, MPD Public Information Officer. “It was decided that a public release over social media would give, not only the media, but everyone access to the actions taken.”
In the released statement, Davis detailed that “a thorough review of the circumstances” led to the conclusion that five MPD officers “violated multiple department policies, including excessive use of force, duty to intervene, and duty to render aid.”
Crump’s office responded in the wake of the firings.
“We join Tyre’s family in supporting the Department’s decision to terminate the five officers who brutalized him, ultimately causing his death. This is the first step towards achieving justice for Tyre and his family. They must also be held accountable for robbing this man of his life and his son of a father,” Crump said in a released statement.
“In the coming days, we will review the video footage from this violent attack … providing the family and community more clarity into what led to the loss of this young man, father, and son. We will continue to demand transparency and accountability in the case, and will not stop until we achieve full justice for Tyre and his family.”
Fired were now-former officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith.
Fired! Five officers terminated in connection with ‘tragic death’ of Tyre D. Nichols
Any criminal charges await the completion of an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and would be made by the office of Shelby County Atty. Gen. Steve Mulroy, who asked for the TBI investigation.
The office of the U.S. Atty. for the Western District of Tennessee, in coordination with the FBI Memphis Field Office and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, has opened a civil rights investigation.
Noted Crump Law associate, Antonio Romanucci, will be at Monday’s rally, along with Memphis Branch NAACP President Van Turner Jr.
