Anniversary of death of Tyre Nichols to be marked with vigils, renewed calls for justice

As the first anniversary of the death of Tyre Nichols approaches, the family’s attorneys are recommitting to “fighting for justice for Tyre.”

In a Friday statement, renowned civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci said Nichols’s family has been “touched” by the support they have received over the last year. 

“What happened on January 7, 2023, was an unspeakable and inhumane tragedy that needlessly took the life of a gentle and peaceful person who was loved by so many,” the attorneys said. “We extend our continued condolences to his beautiful family. We also see this weekend as one that provides hope, as the family is touched by the many gestures in Memphis and around the world to remember Tyre’s generous spirit.”

Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, died Jan. 10, three days after a traffic stop turned into a deadly beating. His death sparked nationwide protests, recalling images of the 2020 murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers. 

Top leaders like the Rev. Al Sharpton had spoken out against Nichols’s death, and the U.S. Justice Department announced it had opened a civil rights investigation into the department.

The five police officers involved in the beating that led to Nichols’s death — Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Justin Smith, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr. — were indicted on federal charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression.

Activists and supporters will gather Sunday in Memphis and Nichols’s hometown of Sacramento, Calif., for candlelit vigils honoring his memory and issuing renewed calls for justice.

“Our legal team is fiercely committed to fighting for justice for Tyre and vigorously restate our assertions that the Scorpion Unit officers involved acted at the direction of a Memphis Police Department policy that violated the civil rights of innocent civilians and caused needless pain to many,” Crump and Romanucci said. 

But, they added, there is still work to be done when it comes to meaningful reform. The attorneys said they plan to push Memphis Mayor Paul Young (D) to enforce a host of reforms the Memphis City Council passed in the wake of Tyre Nichols’ death. 

“These types of commonsense changes to police policies and practices are essential to establishing trust between communities and police,” said Crump and Romanuccie. “Our team has actively called for consistent, national systemic police reform since the murder of George Floyd. Had changes to law enforcement policies been enacted in 2020, we strongly believe Tyre Nichols would be alive today. ”