From Moms Rising (https://www.momsrising.org/):
Heartbreak and outrage. The recently released video footage of the vicious killing of Tyre Nichols by Memphis police officers is terrifying to watch. What began as a traffic stop on January 7th ended in the savage beating of the beloved father and son at the hands of five police officers. He cried out for his mother, as the violent blows rained down on him. [1] Three-days later the 29 year-old, known to loved ones as a “free spirit”, died of his multiple injuries. [2]
Join us in demanding justice for Tyre Nichols through substantive changes in policing in Memphis at https://action.momsrising.org/sign/justice_for_tyre_nichols.
Tyre Nichols should still be here, like so many Black Americans whose lives have been taken by out-of-control police officers. [3] People like Keenan Anderson, a 31-year old high school English teacher and father, who earlier this month was killed after Los Angeles police repeatedly tased him after a vehicle collision, while he begged for help. [4]
Community members are making following demands of the Memphis City Council:
- End the practice of pretextual stops, and give the Community Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB) the power to hold officers accountable;
- Fund a civilian response unit;
- Pass the Data Transparency ordinance;
- Eliminate the Organized Crime Unit (OCU), and have transparency and oversight over all special units.
We can reimagine public safety and live in a world where parents don’t bury their children as a result of police violence. The first step is showing local leaders that people want to see change.
Join the call for justice by signing onto our petition urging the Memphis City Council take action.
Black people deserve to grow old. No more sons and daughters should have their lives cut short violently by people who are supposed to “protect and serve”.
Share this link with your friends and family so they can also take action: https://action.momsrising.org/sign/justice_for_tyre_nichols
P.S. We can prevent violence instead of just responding to it, not only in Memphis, but throughout the nation. Click here to tell Congress to pass the People’s Response Act, federal legislation to build a new infrastructure for community safety that operates fully outside of the criminal-legal system.
References:
[1] https://nypost.com/2023/01/27/who-was-tyre-nichols-what-know-about-his-death-memphis-arrest[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/26/us/tyre-nichols-timeline.html
[3] https://mappingpoliceviolence.org
[4] https://www.npr.org/2023/01/14/1149132089/keenan-anderson-patrisse-cullors-lapd-body-cam-footage
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