(GoRealNewsNow.com) – Americans across the nation are being warned that there could be violent riots and arson in urban areas this weekend once the videos of the fatal police beating of Tyre Nichols are released this evening.
According to Memphis officials, the body camera footage of the beating, which occurred during a traffic stop earlier this month, will be released around 7 pm Eastern.
Nichols, 29, died in the hospital on January 10th, three days after he sustained injuries at the hands of five officers during the stop. Lawyers for his family have alleged that the officers beat Nichols like a “human piñata.”
The officers involved in the incident, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith, had claimed that Nichols fled on foot after being pulled over for reckless driving.
However, Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis stated in a recent CNN appearance that the footage of the incident provided no proof that Nichols violated traffic laws before being stopped. Davis also admitted that the stop itself was “very questionable.”
All five officers have been fired and have surrendered to authorities on murder charges. Since then, all of the officers, except for Haley, have posted bail between $250,000 and $350,000 each and have been released.
In a video statement released Wednesday night, Davis described the beating as “heinous, reckless and inhumane.” She stated, “I expect you to feel what the Nichols family feels. I expect you to feel outrage in the disregard of basic human rights, as our police officers have taken an oath to do the opposite of what transpired on the video.”
While Davis acknowledged that Memphis residents have a right to protest and demand action and results, she warned against violent responses to the footage. “None of this is a calling card for inciting violence or destruction on our community or our citizens,” she cautioned.
FedEx worker Nichols’ family members saw the body camera footage earlier this week. One of their attorneys, Ben Crump, compared the vicious encounter to the 1991 beating of Rodney King in Los Angeles. Nichols’ stepfather Rodney Wells stated, “Our son ran because he was scared for his life. And when you see the video, you’ll see why he was scared for his life.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams also commented on the incident, calling it “really concerning…on several fronts.” He stated, “When a law enforcement officer participates in an unlawful act, that is extremely troubling.” He also reiterated Davis’ plea for peaceful protests.
What is your opinion? Are you concerned that there could be riots in urban areas in the coming days after the videos are released tonight? Please share your thoughts and views by emailing [email protected]. Thank you.
Video of Tyre Nichols beating to be released Friday evening: officials https://t.co/3SlXkxzjrU pic.twitter.com/Hve6oND5eY
— New York Post (@nypost) January 27, 2023
