Many American celebrities are calling for light to be shed on the fatal arrest of Tire Nichols. This 29-year-old African-American young man died on January 10 in hospital, three days after a roadside check, the images of which, released this week, reveal incredible violence on the young man by five black police officers.
Media coverage of the case began this week when five police officers were fired, charged with murder and jailed. Four of them were later released on bail.
The video of the arrest made public on Friday night, showing the police outburst, has finished shocking the United States. Inevitably remembering the death of George Floyd, in 2020, at the origin of the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement.
“I am heartbroken and angry to see another family, another community bruised by police violence,” Justin Timberlake of Memphis said on Twitter.
“I stand with my hometown and the citizens of Memphis to demand justice,” he added.
On January 7, the police wanted to arrest Tire Nichols for a traffic violation, according to AFP. As officers approached, “a confrontation ensued” and “the suspect fled,” police said in a statement.
“I just want to go home”
The video of the arrest reveals a long beating, with punches, kicks, and batons. The young man is sprayed with tear gas and attacked with a Taser with electric shocks, he tries to flee but is later caught by the agents. “I just want to go home,” we hear him say at one point. “Mom! Mom! Mom!” he yells at him afterwards.
“I just want to go home” seems to become a catchphrase. Actresses Viola Davis and Niecy Nash, in particular, posted these short words, in white on a black background, on Instagram.
“An escalation of violence against black men”
Octavia Spencer (the shape of water, The color of feelings.), evokes the film Fruitvale Station released in 2013, in which she played, inspired by the death of young Oscar Grant during an arrest in 2009.
“I thought this film would have an impact on police violence against black youth. I was hoping that the public discourse would bring about a change. Things have changed, but in the direction of escalating violence against black youth,” he said. saying. “Don’t look away, no matter how painful it is.”
Octavia Spencer calls for mobilization in the face of the next US presidential elections: “Yesterday it was Oscar Grant. Today it is Tire Nichols. Tomorrow, and unfortunately there will be a tomorrow, it could be you. Shall we do it? Get ready for 2024.”
“Tyre Nichols deserved better,” read the Instagram account for BeyGOOD, Beyoncé’s charity. “To the Nichols family, like the rest of humanity, we mourn the senseless loss of his beloved son. His life mattered!”
Joe Biden ‘outraged’
The political class also reacted. Thirty minutes after the video was released, US President Joe Biden said he was “outraged” and “deeply bruised”, describing it as “a painful reminder of the deep fear, trauma, pain and exhaustion that black and colored Americans face every day.
Barack Obama, his predecessor in the White House, and his wife Michelle issued a joint statement: “America still has a long way to go to fix the way we police our streets.”
Memphis police announced Saturday the disbandment of the task force involved in the fatal beating. Rallies ranging from a few dozen to a few hundred people were held Friday night in various cities, including Memphis, New York and Washington. Since his death, his family has repeatedly called for calm.
Source: BFM TV
