Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris
“Tyre Nichols should have made it home to his family. Yet, once again, America mourns the life of a son and father brutally cut short at the hands of those sworn to protect and serve. The footage and images released tonight will forever be seared in our memories, and they open wounds that will never fully heal.
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The persistent issue of police misconduct and use of excessive force in America must end now.
I join President Biden in his call for accountability and transparency. We must build trust—not fear—within our communities.
Congress must act with urgency and pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. To truly honor Tyre Nichols’ memory, and the memory of so many others before him, we must demand that our justice system lives up to its name.“
Statement by Congresswoman Yvette Clarke
Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Vice Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, released the following statement offering her deepest condolences to the family of Tyre Nichols and addressing the need for action following the Shelby County District Attorney’s decision to charge 5 former Memphis Police Department Officers with second-degree murder, aggravated assault and kidnapping, and official misconduct and oppression:
“There is no doubt in my mind that Tyre Nichols should be alive today. Police Brutality continues to plague or society. Time and time again, Black Americans have been forced to confront the senseless violence and deaths of Black men at the hands of law enforcement. My heart and sympathies go out to Tyre Nichols family and friends as we share in grief and mourn his loss,” said Congresswoman Clarke. “As New Yorkers, we are well accustomed to the painful truth that our country has a shameful history of turning a blind eye to the hate, bigotry, and violence of police brutality that has led to the torture, abuse, and death of unarmed Black and Brown people.
“Last Congress, I helped lead the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which holds our legal system and police accountable.
And I intend on fighting for this crucial legislation until it is finally signed into law. This must end. We cannot rest, we cannot falter, we cannot sit idly by as we continue to watch our brothers and sisters die at the hands of law enforcement. No more hashtags, empty promises, or meaningless lip service. We need justice, and we will keep fighting until we have it.”
Statement from NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell
New York, NY – The NYPD and the communities we serve are collectively outraged at the death of Tyre Nichols in the custody of the Memphis Police Department.
The disgraceful actions depicted in the released video are an unequivocal violation of our oath to protect those we serve, and a failure of basic human decency.
The officers involved have been terminated and charged with murder, among other offenses.
Here in New York City, we will have an increased police presence over the next days to ensure that people who choose to are able to express themselves freely and safely.
Our responsibility is to protect the constitutional right to peacefully assemble and protest.
While we understand, appreciate, and share the high emotional charge of this tragedy, our Department will never tolerate violence, willful destruction, or any other criminality.
We value the trust we work every day to build and solidify with our communities.
The NYPD will support peaceful demonstration while safeguarding our city’s residents, commuters, and visitors.
Statement from Rev. Al Sharpton
“Once again, we are forced to watch another horrific video of cops using brutal force to kill a Black man. Nearly three years after the murder of George Floyd shook the world, here we are. This video should be all a jury needs to convict each of the five officers who relentlessly beat Tyre Nichols to death. Justice needs to be delivered for Tyre and his family. I don’t think anyone who could stomach getting through this footage would disagree.
Those who go out to protest tonight must respect the family’s wishes to remain non-violent. We are all outraged, but anyone who turns violent only helps the defendants. The more you act up, the more these cops will only use it as an excuse for their despicable actions.
The sad reality is police brutality will be an ever-present threat for Black and Brown Americans unless cops continually see that those who use blunt force will go to jail. They need to understand that a badge isn’t a shield that lets them kill someone during a traffic stop. And the only way to do that is through convictions and legislation. I thank the Justice Department for opening a civil rights investigation and urge its lawyers to be swift and transparent. Our entire nation must come together to condemn this grotesque violation of human rights.”
Statement from Speaker Adrienne Adams
“Tyre Nichols was a loving father to his young son, an avid photographer and skateboarder, and a valued member of his community. Our thoughts go out to the family and loved ones of Tyre Nichols, who have been shrouded in grief over these last few weeks. As a mother and grandmother, my heart aches for Tyre’s mother, RowVaughn Wells, and entire family as they mourn. Hearing his mother express how she felt when hearing her son call for her is heartbreaking.
“Tyre should be alive, and the police brutality that took his life is deplorable and demands accountability. We have lost too many of our children, mothers, fathers and family members to police violence in this country and it must end.
“As we pursue accountability, it’s important that we prioritize measures to support the bereaved and our communities in their healing and recovery from this severe trauma forced upon us to repeatedly endure. We know our communities have emotions of anger, sadness, and much more, and encourage non-violent protest and others forms of open expression. I uplift the public request by RowVaughn Wells, who asked parents not to share the video with their children, and for people to engage in peaceful protests. It is also critical that restraint be shown by police and any misconduct against non-violent protest be met with zero-tolerance.
Moving forward as a city, we must maintain our focus inward to the necessary changes in policy that we can enact to end all types of discriminatory policing and police violence with the same vigor that we seek to stop all violence against our communities.”
Statement from Council Member Farah N. Louis
“It’s hard to put into words the outrage and disgust I feel after watching the footage of the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, carried out by former Memphis Police Officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith.
With every strike against his body, these officers stripped away Tyre’s dignity, worth, and life force, treating him like an animal. These cops failed their oath, abused their power, and further eroded our already tenuous trust in law enforcement.
Tyre was a human being, made in God’s image, and he should still be here with us. We should not be desensitized to Tyre’s tragic death or any other occurrence of an unarmed Black person killed at the hands of police.
I am calling on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to conduct a thorough Civil Rights investigation into the death of Tyre Nichols. As a community, let us respect and support the family’s wishes to organize peaceful protests and carry out a shared goal to fight for #JusticeforTyre.”
Statement from Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse
“I found myself wishing my three sons were near so I could hug them tightly after viewing the heartbreaking and equally infuriating footage of the beating death of Tyre Nichols. I pray that that Tyre’s family finds the strength to endure this horrific injustice. As a nation, we have yet to confront and address the bias and inequities which remain within policing. A simple traffic stop should not be a potential death for Black men in America. We must do better and reimagine the manner in which the police protect and serve our communities, at the bare minimum, it must be done with courtesy, professionalism and respect. Anything less is wholly unacceptable.”
Statement by NAACP NYS Conference President Hazel N. Dukes
“As I watched the video that proved that Tyre Nichols was murdered by 5 men who took the Oath of Office, that they were to protect and serve our community. This proved that we must continue to work for police reform especially for those who commit such vicious acts that they are punished to the full extent, that they never receive their pensions or retirement funds. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family!”
