Tuesday January 31, 2023

Today on Sojourner Truth we discuss the wrongful killing of Tyre Nichols, a 29 year old black man who was beaten up and tased by five black police officers and later died in the hospital.
According to the family attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, an independent autopsy was done by a forensic pathologist, which determined that Nichols died of “excessive bleeding caused by a severe beating.”
Police claim to have stopped Nichols for a traffic violation and that he became aggressive and tried to reach for one of the officers' guns, however video footage showed that police lied in their report.
Videos of the beating that involved five black officers who at one point laid on top of Nichols all at once, was released Friday January 27th, leading to widespread national protests and putting a national spotlight on Memphis,TN police and the wider conversation around systemic failures and racism in policing.

A 6th police officer, Preston Hemphill, who is white, has been let go from the police force as the investigation on the killing of Tyree Nichols continues.
Hemphill’s attorney confirmed he was the 3rd officer at the initial stop and the body cam footage was from his body cam. Hemphill’s body camera captures part of the initial confrontation with Nichols. In the video, Hemphill can be seen using a Taser on him. Later, a voice on the body cam that seems to be Hemphill’s says, “I hope they stomp his a--” after Nichols escaped.
The sheriff in Shelby County, Tenn., which includes Memphis, said two of his deputies were relieved of duty amid an internal investigation, citing “concerns” after they “appeared on the scene following the physical confrontation between police and Tyre Nichols.” The Memphis Fire Department has also said it pulled two personnel from duty in response to the case and launched an internal investigation.
Days before Tyre Nichols passed three men were killed by the Los Angeles Police Department within 48 hours.
Our guests joining us for the hour to unpack the aftermath of the death of Tyre Nichols as well as the recent killing of three men by Los Angeles Police include: Ash-Lee Henderson, the first Black woman to serve as the co-executive director of the Highlander Research and Education Center. Ash-Lee is an active participant in the Movement for Black Lives. Dr. Gerald Horne, Moores Professor of History and African-American Studies at the University of Houston, and organizer Mic Crenshaw. Mic Crenshaw is an independent hip hop artist, respected emcee, poet, educator and activist and the lead U.S. Organizer for the Afrikan Hip-Hop Caravan who uses Cultural Activism as a means to develop international solidarity related to Human Rights and Justice through Hip Hop and Popular Education.