“It’s hard to put into words the outrage and disgust I feel after watching the footage of the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, carried out by former Memphis Police Officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith.

With every strike against his body, these officers stripped away Tyre’s dignity, worth, and life force, treating him like an animal. These cops failed their oath, abused their power, and further eroded our already tenuous trust in law enforcement.

Tyre was a human being, made in God’s image, and he should still be here with us. We should not be desensitized to Tyre’s tragic death or any other occurrence of an unarmed Black person killed at the hands of police.

I am calling on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to conduct a thorough Civil Rights investigation into the death of Tyre Nichols. As a community, let us respect and support the family’s wishes to organize peaceful protests and carry out a shared goal to fight for #JusticeforTyre.”

Read statements from more leaders on New York Carib News (link).