Protesters march in Center City against Memphis police killing of Tyre Nichols
Several videos were made public showing Memphis officers assaulting — some punching or kicking — the 29-year-old Nichols, a FedEx worker who had a 4-year-old son.
Around 40 people gathered in Center City in front of City Hall to protest the killing of Tyre Nichols by Memphis police as video of the fatal beating was released.
Several videos were made public showing Memphis officers assaulting — some punching or kicking — the 29-year-old Nichols, a Black man and FedEx worker who had a 4-year-old son. Five of the officers have been charged with second-degree murder.
In the frigid Friday night, protesters with the Party for Socialism and Liberation called for an end to police brutality and what they called a state of “police terror.”
» READ MORE: Warning: Videos released by the City of Memphis Show police killing of Tyre Nichols
Talia Giles, an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, took to the microphone moments after the release of the videos.
“It’s absolutely disgusting,” Giles said. “It shows the complete and utter disregard for human life. It shows the fact that police, no matter what their race is, are going to terrorize people because that’s what the system is meant to do. It’s meant to abuse its power against citizens.”
One protester said he only could watch a few seconds of the video.
After several speakers excoriated the police, the group took off marching down 15th Street, onto Walnut Street.
A short time later the march returned to City Hall and the protest ended.
“The message we’re trying to get out is that people deserve to live dignified lives,” Giles said of the group’s reason for protesting. “That we are against police terror. And that we have a right as a people to protest against police terror and white supremacy in this country.”
Adiah Hicks, another organizer with PSL, said that along with declaring as a group that police brutality would not stand, she wanted Nichols’ family to know that they were not alone.
More than 20 Philadelphia Police officers on bicycles closely trailed the group of protesters.
Mayor Jim Kenney issued a statement expressing outrage at Nichols’ death and also urging demonstrators to be peaceful.
“My heart breaks for his family and community, and from knowing that so many people across the country, including here in Philadelphia, live in fear that this could happen to them or a loved one,” Kenney said.
Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw added her own statement: “The pain and anguish felt in our communities is real, and we recognize that people may want to express it publicly. We want to assure the public that we are here to protect their First Amendment rights.”
Outlaw continued: “While feelings of anger and despair may be present, we ask for these public expressions to be respectful to others, and also to our own communities. The safety of all demonstrators, along with the safety of our residents, business owners, and visitors are a top priority for the Philadelphia Police Department.”
In Memphis, family members of Nichols pleaded for any protests to remain peaceful.
The officers, all of whom are Black, were charged Thursday with second-degree murder and other crimes in the killing of Nichols, who died three days after a Jan. 7 confrontation with the officers during a traffic stop.
Nichols’ family members and their lawyers said the footage shows officers savagely beating Nichols for three minutes in an assault that the legal team likened to the infamous 1991 police beating of Los Angeles motorist Rodney King.
Nichols’ family members viewed the video Monday.
Memphis Police Director Cerelyn Davis described the officers’ actions as “heinous, reckless, and inhumane,” and said Friday that her department has been unable to substantiate the reckless driving allegation that prompted the stop.
Court records showed that all five former officers — Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III, and Justin Smith — were taken into custody.
The officers each face charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression. Four of the five officers had posted bond and been released from custody by Friday morning, according to court and jail records.
Martin’s lawyer, William Massey, and Mills’ lawyer, Blake Ballin, said their clients would plead not guilty. Lawyers for Smith, Bean, and Haley could not be reached.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.