Mr. Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, died three days after being punched, kicked and pepper sprayed during a late-night traffic stop on Jan. 7, spurring sorrow and anger across the country after video of the beating was released. “This is a family that lost their son and their brother through an act of violence at the hands and the feet of people who had been charged with keeping them safe,” Ms. Harris said, vowing that the Biden administration would renew efforts to pass legislation curtailing police violence.
“Mothers around the world, when their babies are born, pray to God when they hold that child, that body and that life will be safe for the rest of his life,¨ Harris stated. ¨Yet, we have a mother and a father who mourn the life of a young man who should be here today.”
Harris called on Congress to pass the George Floyd Police Justice Bill, which would set forth a national registry of officer misconduct to prevent police officers from evading consequences of their actions by moving in to another jurisdiction.
The funeral was attended by other senior members of current administration, local officials and people from the African-American community who were victims of police violence.
Lawrace Turner, senior pastor, officiated the ceremony and noted, “We inform this nation the replay of this episode that turns Black lives into hashtags has been suspended and will not be reiterated.” “We will get through this fight for justice on behalf of our brother Tyre Nichols.”
Rev. Al Sharpton criticized the five police officers charged in Nichols´ death and stressed the need to hold officers accountable for excessive use of force.
Tyre Nichols, after his arrest during a traffic stop on January 7, was beaten at least nine times in just four minutes by members of Memphis police officers.
More than 20 minutes passed before he received medical assistance, and although he was hospitalized, he died three days later from severe injuries.
After being the footage displayed, a great number of American people took to the streets in several U.S. cities to strongly reject police brutality, express their outrage and to call for justice.
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