New York, NY (May 6, 2024) – Rev. Al Sharpton will deliver the eulogy for Frank Tyson, the 53-year-old Black man who died in police custody last month after a traffic incident in Canton, Ohio, at the request of his family. The Founder and President of the National Action Network (NAN) will be joined at this Wednesday’s service by Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Tyson’s family and will deliver a national call to justice at the service.
“Frank Tyson’s cries of ‘I can’t breathe’ are ones we have heard far too often when Black men and women die in police custody,” said Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder and President of NAN. “Once again, we have seen footage of those pleas for help not only ignored but dismissed by officers using excessive force – who then left him to lie unconscious for several minutes. I have answered the family’s call to deliver Frank’s eulogy and remain committed to delivering justice for them.”
Thirty-six minutes of body camera footage released by Canton officials last week showed officers arriving to an AMVETS post, where Tyson arrived after crashing his car on April 18. Police then restrained Tyson as they tried to arrest him, with one officer putting his knee on his upper torso. It was at that point that Tyson repeatedly called out “I can’t breathe” – echoing the same cries of Eric Garner and George Floyd during their deaths in custody. One of the detaining officers responded, “You’re fine,” followed by an expletive-laden command for him to shut up.
Footage then shows Tyson lying motionless on the floor with his hands cuffed behind his back for five minutes before police checked on him. It was approximately eight minutes before anyone administered CPR on Tyson. Medics finally transported Tyson to a hospital, where he later died.
WHO:
Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder and President of NAN
Attorney Ben Crump
The family of Frank Tyson
WHERE:
Hear The Word Ministries
2130 31st Street NW.
Canton, Ohio 44709
WHEN:
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
11:30 a.m. ET
About National Action Network (NAN)
National Action Network is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Nation with chapters throughout the entire United States. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency, and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, nationality, or gender.
For more information go to www.nationalactionnetwork.net.
