January 28, 2023, 9:37 AM
January 28, 2023, 9:37 AM
The president of United States, Joe Bidensaid this Friday (01.27.2023) that he was “outraged and deeply hurt” after seeing the images of the beating that several police officers gave the African-American Tyre Nicholswho died days later in the hospital.
“As many, I was outraged and deeply hurt after seeing the horrible video of the beating that ended in death” of the 29-year-old in Memphis, Tennessee, Biden said in a statement on Friday.
The president acknowledged that the images, which were released this Friday afternoon, will leave many Americans “shocked” but asked those “seeking justice” not to resort to violence. “Violence is never acceptable, it is illegal and destructive,” said the president.
Officials of the White House They had a call this afternoon with the mayors of 16 cities in the country before possible protests over the weekend after the Memphis Police published the videos showing the beating of Nichols.
For his part, the mayor of New York, Eric Adams, who was on the call, said in a video statement posted on his social networks that he felt “devastated” by what happened with Nichols and asked the inhabitants of the city to act. peacefully if you wish to protest over the weekend. “If you need to express anger or outrage, do it peacefully”he said in the video. Adams added that the city’s Police Department is already “fully prepared” to allow residents to exercise their right to protest.
The most graphic video is the one captured by a surveillance camera on a lamppost, where it is seen from above how the agents kicked, some of them in the head, and hit Nichols with a baton (weapon).
The attorney general of the United States, Merrick Garland, promised this Friday that there will be an investigation into the nichols death at the hands of five police officers in Memphis (Tennessee) and asked that any protests that may take place over this event be peaceful.
Five former agents are in custody and face various criminal charges for beating Nichols to death, who was arrested on January 7 for an alleged traffic violation.