Tyre Nichols beating video is a ‘watershed second for America,’ household lawyer says – New York Day by day Information

The discharge of footage exhibiting Memphis police brutally beating Tyre Nichols throughout a Jan. 7 visitors cease marks a “watershed second for America,” his household’s lawyer mentioned Sunday.

Civil rights lawyer Benjamin Crump known as for federal police reform following the Jan. 10 demise of Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man. 5 officers have been charged with homicide final Thursday, a day earlier than Memphis officers made video of the violent encounter public.

“After we first noticed [the footage] earlier than America noticed it, we mentioned that it’s going to remind individuals of the Rodney King [police beating in 1991],” Crump mentioned on CNN’s “State of the Union” present. “That was a watershed second for America. I consider this video is a watershed second for America.

“The one query that is still is how a lot progress have we produced from [1991 with the] Rodney King video to 2023 with Tyre Nichols’ tragic video? What are our nationwide leaders going to do?”

Authorities launched greater than an hour of footage, which reveals Nichols yelling for his mom as he’s overwhelmed.

Officers Tadarrius Bean, Emmitt Martin III, Justin Smith, Demetrius Haley and Desmond Mills Jr., who’re Black, have been all fired and charged with second-degree homicide, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression.

“I consider they may all be convicted of crimes,” Crump mentioned. “Whether or not all of them are going to be convicted with homicide, we’ve got to proceed to dissect this video, however one factor is for sure. … All of those officers failed their oath. They failed their oath to guard and serve. Take a look at that video. Was anyone attempting to guard and serve Tyre Nichols?”

On Saturday, Memphis Police introduced the everlasting disbandment of the SCORPION unit the officers have been a part of. The division launched the Road Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods unit in 2021.

With Information Wire Companies