Many American personalities join their voices to the demonstrators who demand justice for Tire Nichols, who died following a beating by five police officers.
Many American celebrities are calling for light to be shed on the fatal arrest of Tire Nichols. This young 29-year-old African-American died on January 10 in hospital, three days after a roadside check, the images of which, unveiled this week, reveal incredible violence by five black police officers on the young man.
The media coverage of the case began this week when five police officers were fired, charged with murder and imprisoned. Four of them were later released on bail.
The video of the arrest made public Friday evening, which shows the outburst of the police, has finished shocking America. Inevitably recalling 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,” said Justin Timberlake, from Memphis, on Twitter.
“I stand with my hometown and the citizens of Memphis in demanding justice,” he added.
On January 7, police wanted to arrest Tire Nichols for a traffic violation, as reported by AFP. As officers approached, a “confrontation occurred” and “the suspect fled,” law enforcement said in a statement.
“I just want to go home”
The video of the arrest reveals a long beating, with punches, kicks, truncheons. The young man is sprayed with tear gas and targeted by a Taser with electric shocks, tries to flee but is then caught by the agents. “I just want to go home,” we hear him say at one point. “Mum! Mum! Mum!” he shouts later.
“I just want to go home” seems to become a catchphrase. The actresses Viola Davis and Niecy Nash, in particular, published these few words, in white on a black background, on Instagram.
“An escalation of violence against black men”
Octavia Spencer (The shape of water, The colour of feelings), evokes the film Fruitvale Station released in 2013, in which she played, inspired by the death of the young Oscar Grant during an arrest in 2009.
“I thought this film would have an impact on police violence against young black men. I hoped that the public discourse would effect a change. Things have changed, but in the direction of an escalation in violence against young black men. black,” she said. “Don’t look away, no matter how painful.”
Octavia Spencer calls for mobilization in view of the next American presidential election: “Yesterday it was Oscar Grant. Today it is Tire Nichols. Tomorrow, and unfortunately there will be a tomorrow, it could be you. do we do? Get ready for 2024.”
“Tyre Nichols deserved better,” reads the Instagram account of BeyGOOD, Beyoncé’s charity organization. “To the Nichols family – just like the rest of humanity, we grieve the senseless loss of your dear son. His life mattered!”.
Joe Biden ‘outraged’
The political class also reacted. Thirty minutes after the video was posted, US President Joe Biden said he was “outraged” and “deeply bruised”, describing “a painful reminder of deep fear, trauma, pain and exhaustion 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 on Saturday announced the dismantling of the special unit involved in the fatal beating. Rallies ranging from a few dozen to a few hundred people were held Friday night in several cities, including Memphis, New York and Washington. Since his death, his family has repeatedly called for calm.
