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On Wednesday, three former Memphis police officers were acquitted of state charges, including second-degree murder, in the death of Tyre Nichols, whose 2023 killing shocked the nation and fueled calls for reform. The three were convicted last year in a federal trial for witness tampering, and one of the three was found guilty of federal criminal charges for violating Mr. Nichols’s civil rights. Two other former Memphis police officers have taken guilty pleas on federal civil rights and conspiracy charges, including using excessive force and conspiring or taking action to cover up the misconduct, and one of them has also pleaded guilty to charges related to Mr. Nichols’s death in state court.
In response, Legal Defense Fund (LDF) President and Director-Counsel Janai Nelson issued the following statement:
“Our hearts go out to the family of Tyre Nichols, who have been forced to relive the horror of his tragic and untimely death while dealing with the disappointment that yesterday’s verdict has surely wrought. Regardless of the jury’s verdict, the fact remains that Tyre Nichols was beaten to death after being pulled over for a simple traffic violation. What followed is a chilling reminder of the disturbing frequency at which interactions with law enforcement mark the end of a Black person’s life. Despite their sworn duty to protect Memphis residents like Tyre Nichols, officers on the scene failed to intervene and stop the brutal actions of their peers and likewise failed to render aid while Mr. Nichols lay suffering. Had any of the officers acted in accordance with their professional responsibilities, Mr. Nichols might still be alive today.
“The horrific beating death of Tyre Nichols is yet another example of the entrenched culture of police violence against Black people that persists in far too many law enforcement agencies around the country. In the Memphis Police Department, that culture was exposed in stark detail by the Department of Justice’s scathing findings last year. The DOJ found that the Memphis Police Department has a pattern or practice of excessive force, including the escalation of encounters that begin with low-level offenses, such as traffic violations. DOJ also found that Memphis Police racially discriminate against Black Memphians systematically.
“These repeated tragedies are not isolated incidents; they are the product of a broken public safety system that prioritizes force over true security and refuses to treat Black people with equal dignity and respect. We urgently need systemic reforms to end the cycle of police violence that has traumatized Black communities for generations and ensure accountability for all officers who betray their sworn duties to the public.
“Regardless of whether DOJ decides to pursue remedies for the constitutional violations that it uncovered within the Memphis Police Department, the City of Memphis – including the Mayor and other city officials – have a sacred responsibility to build a public safety system that truly protects all Memphis residents. No one in Memphis, or any other American city, should endure what the Nichols family has already suffered.”
Founded in 1940, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is the nation’s first civil rights law organization. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the Legal Defense Fund or LDF. Please note that LDF has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights.
