Candlelight vigils on Sunday will commemorate the one-year anniversary of the killing of Trye Nichols by Memphis Police Department (MPD) officers.
A vigil will be held in Memphis on January 7 at 7 p.m. at the intersection of Castlegate Lane and Ross Road. Another vigil will take place in Nichols’ hometown of Sacramento, California at the Tyre Nichols Skate Park at 5 p.m. CST.
Credit: Google Maps
“During the vigils attendees will come together to reflect on Nichols’ life, share memories and stand united in demanding accountability and justice,” reads a statement from attorney Ben Crump’s office. “Candles will be lit in his honor, and as a symbol of hope and remembrance.”
Crump and Antonio Romanucci, attorneys for the Nichols family, also released a letter ahead of the anniversary of Nichols’ death.
“Our legal team is fiercely committed to fighting for justice for Tyre and vigorously restate our assertions that the Scorpion Unit officers involved acted at the direction of [an MPD] policy that violated the civil rights of innocent civilians and caused needless pain to many,” reads the letter.
The anniversary of Nichols’ death coincides with the release of information by former Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, where he explained that he “actively avoided signing and enforcing the Driving Equality Act in honor of Tyre Nichols that the Memphis City Council passed in Spring 2023.” The law would have required Memphis police officers to skip traffic stops for offenses like temporary tags, damaged bumpers, or lapsed car registration.
Both Crump and Romanucci said that they are “deeply disturbed” by this revelation and that this would have directed “meaningful reform in how Memphis Police should conduct and report traffic stops.” They have also vowed to hold Mayor Paul Young accountable for holding up plans to enact this reform.
“These types of commonsense changes to police policies and practices are essential to establishing trust between communities and police,” said the attorneys in a statement. “Had changes to law enforcement policies been enacted in 2020, we strongly believe Tyre Nichols would be alive today.”
Reactions to charges filed against five Memphis Police Department officers in the death of Tyre Nichols believe the charges are a good place to start but not the end of justice in the case.
(Credit: Ben Crump | Twitter)
Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, attorneys for the Nichols family:
“The news today from Memphis officials that these five officers are being held criminally accountable for their deadly and brutal actions gives us hope as we continue to push for justice for Tyre.
“This young man lost his life in a particularly disgusting manner that points to the desperate need for change and reform to ensure this violence stops occurring during low-threat procedures, like in this case, a traffic stop.
“This tragedy meets the absolute definition of a needless and unnecessary death. Tyre’s loved ones’ lives were forever changed when he was beaten to death, and we will keep saying his name until justice is served.”
Tennessee state Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Raumesh Akbari:
Raumesh Akbari (Credit: Senator Raumesh Akbari | Facebook)
“While I applaud the swift action of the district attorney, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Memphis Police Department, there is no justice for Tyre Nichols today.
“Justice would be Tyre living to see his next birthday. Justice is people in this community having trust that our police officers will first police themselves. No one should fear for their life during a simple traffic stop or be afraid to even engage with our officers.
There is no justice for Tyre Nichols today.
Sen. Raumseh Akbari
“So instead, today we begin the long act of healing our hurting community, Tyre’s mother and family, and ourselves.
“We cannot move forward together unless we are willing to do the work to hold our police department to the highest ethical standards and uproot any existence or acceptance of police brutality. This is our call to action and we must be vigilant.”
Tennessee state Sen. London Lamar, chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Caucus:
(Credit: London Lamar | TN State Government)
“Like many of us, I feel traumatized by Tyre Nichols’ death and I am disturbed by the actions of the officers who were involved.
“While today we send our heartfelt condolences to the Nichols family, tomorrow we work toward achieving continuous accountability for law enforcement.
“This may be the most egregious act of police brutality in our nation’s history. It shows exactly how much work we have to do to build trust between our people and the officers who pledge to serve and protect our community.
“This may be the most egregious act of police brutality in our nation’s history.”
Sen. London Lamar
“Accountability for the officers involved in Tyre’s death is the first step. The next step is for law enforcement, state and federal officials, and local leaders to investigate why this happened. We have to fix the root causes of police brutality and then do the work to make sure it never happens again.”
U.S. Rep Steve Cohen
Cohen/Credit: U.S. government
“Right now, much of the national media is looking at Memphis as there was an awful killing of a 29-year-old African American man by five police officers within the last few weeks.
“The five police officers have been fired by the police department for violating their oaths…It could be a situation where people want to exercise their First Amendment rights to protest actions of the Police Department, and people should. But they should be peaceful and calm.
“We have a new D.A. We have a new U.S. Attorney. And we have a new police director. They are the right people at the right time to bring about reform and to deal with this case to see that justice is rendered.
“I grieve for the life of Tyre Nichols, whose life should not have been extinguished. He was an outstanding young man and it’s extremely sad that he was killed.
“I pray for my city.”
Rhonda Logan/Facebook
Memphis City Council member Rhonda Logan, chair of council’s Public Safety Committee
“I’d like to share my deepest condolences, love, and prayers of comfort to the family and loved ones of Mr. Tyre Nichols. The death of Mr. Tyre Nichols has been deeply felt and particularly painful because it was in every way heinous. It was inhumane and, in my view, absolutely a crime.
“At the city council Public Safety Committee meeting on January 24th, 2023, I opened with a prayer for Mr. Nichols’ family and shared that I ‘…hope there will be an opportunity for open dialogue within the next few weeks once the investigation has concluded.’
“There are many unanswered questions, as well as new information we are learning about this case every day. As the Public Safety chair, I have not received any additional information from the Memphis Police Department or other law enforcement agency that has not been shared with the public.
“I want to assure members of the public that as chair of the Public Safety Committee, I am committed to holding public conversations with Memphis Police and Memphis Fire leadership about the failings of this tragic event.
“We will consider any and all legislation proposed by the city council and/or administration that could aid in the prevention of any other tragedy such as this one. We will increase regular reporting and transparency with the public, as well as continue to urge community policing.
As a council member elected to represent the citizens, that has and will continue to include Tyre Nichols.”
Rev. Jason Lawrence Turner, pastor of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, and leader of the Black Clergy Collaborative of Memphis
Rev. Jason Lawrence Turner/Twitter
“Today’s indictment against five Memphis police officers involved in the beating death of Tyre Nichols is also an indictment against the systemic injustice and abuse of power still rampant throughout the United States criminal justice system.
“Tragically, Tyre is now its face. But it has thousands of faces in thousands of communities across this country. The color of the officers who’ve been indicted is beside the point. They must be held accountable as must any person and any system that would abuse marginalized people.
“We must demand policy changes nationwide that finally pull systemic injustice out by the roots. We will start today in Memphis. Today can mark the beginning of the Second Civil Rights Movement: beyond individual equality to systemic equality.
“We demand a system that manifests justice for all, not the privileged few. In Tyre’s name, systemic justice is what we must demand and fight for — each day going forward until we overcome.”
An activist sings over megaphone. (Credit: Maya Smith).
A crowd shut down an East Memphis Kroger fuel station Thursday calling for justice for Alvin Motley Jr. who was shot and killed by a security guard there earlier this month.
Activists, attorneys, and family members rallied in the gas station’s parking lot near Kirby and Poplar.
“This gas station is closed for business,” activist LJ Abraham, shouted on a megaphone. “If you buy gas here today, you support racism.”
Activist LJ Abraham urges customers not to use Kroger gas pumps. (Credit: Maya Smith).
Abraham said Kroger is limiting the information they are providing and has not taken responsibility for its role in Motley’s killing.
“They hired the security firm, therefore they hold some responsibility in the killing of Mr. Motley, but they will not speak to that,” Abraham said. “The least they can do is come out and offer a sincere apology. But then what else can they do moving forward to take care of this family?”
Others parked their cars at the fuel station, playing music from their speakers. Cardboard signs reading “Music for Motley” were displayed in windshields.
Rally-goers used orange traffic cones to stop customers from entering the gas station.
Pastor Peris Lester said Motley was killed for loud music, but “today we are calling for louder justice.”
Carl Adams, Motley’s cousin, said what happened to Motley was a “cold-blooded murder.”
Motley’s cousin, Cara Adams, demands justice. (Credit: Maya Smith)
Dr. Robert Motley Jr., another cousin of Motley, said there needs to be policies in place so that other families “don’t have to suffer the way we have suffered.”
Motley was allegedly fatally shot by former Horn Lake police officer Gregory Livingston following a verbal altercation over loud music, police say. Livingston was charged with second degree murder and is currently in jail on a $1.8 million bond.
Nashville District Attorney General Glenn Funk was appointed special prosecutor in the case.
Kroger has since cut ties with Allied Universal Security, the third-party company for which Livingston worked.
Earlier Thursday a memorial service was held for Motley at Mt. Olive Cathedral CME Church. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the Motley family, called for the footage of Motley’s shooting to be released to the public.
“When it’s a Black person lying dead on the ground and it’s a white person that killed him, we start getting all these reasons why we can’t be transparent,” Crump said.
The footage was shown to the Motley family and attorneys Thursday morning, but Crump said there is no justification for it not to be released publicly.
“It is heart wrenching when you watch how unnecessary, how unjustifiable, and how shocking it was that this Allied Security guard shot this unarmed Black man who had a can of beer in his hand and a cigarette in the other,” Crump said. “What could be so dangerous about a Black man holding a beer can and taking a puff of a cigarette?”
Crump said there was no reason for Motley to be killed.
“What is it about Black men that is so fearful to white America that they shoot first and ask questions later?” Crump said. “We have to continue to push for transformative justice. And the only way to get transformative justice is to have truth and transparency.”
Members of Motley’s family also urged for the video to be released. Cara Adams, Motley’s cousin, called Motley’s shooting “the worst act of white terrorism against a Black life that I have ever seen” after watching the video.
“Situations like that are a modernized version of white terrorists who would go and lynch a Black man on the street,” Adams said. “It’s that same disdain, same distaste, same hate that’s deep-rooted in this country in a very systemic and systematic way.”
Cars playing music filled the gas station’s parking lot. (Credit: Maya Smith)
Adams said through tears when the video is released, people will be able to feel “how little a Black life matters in this country.”
“The video really affirmed to me that in this country it’s a crime to be a Black man or a Black woman,” Adams said.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump demands that the Kroger security guard who fatally shot a Black man over the weekend be held accountable.
Alvin Motley was shot and killed by a security guard at an East Memphis Kroger fuel station Saturday after a dispute over loud music. A day after the shooting, the shooter, Gregory Livingston was charged with second degree murder.
Crump, who has been retained to represent the Motley family, said at a press conference Tuesday the death of Motley was preventable. Playing music should not be something that’s fatal, Crump said.
“Another unarmed Black person was killed because he was profiled, because of the color of his skin,” Crump said. “How many more times will we have to face these tragedies — these senseless unjustifiable tragedies that leave our children in the morgue and families with holes in their hearts?”
Crump also added it is Kroger’s responsibility to hire security guards who respect Black customers.
Crump called for people all over America to go to Kroger and play music for Motley to let Kroger know “our music should not prove fatalities for our children.”
President of the Memphis NAACP chapter Van Turner was also at Tuesday’s press conference. Turner called the shooting a “cold-blooded murder.”
He invited those in attendance to “say his name.”
“Let’s make sure that name means something in this community,” Turner said. “We have to let this family know that we aren’t going to forget Alvin Motley. His murder will not be in vain.”
Turner said Livingston and Kroger need to be held accountable.
“We’re here today to resurrect justice,” Turner said. “We’re here to resurrect justice for this family and for Black people who have been dying in this country since we stepped foot on these shores unjustly.”
Senator Katrina Robinson, also present, said Motley’s death was a result of systemic racism.
“Black people, we have to stop meeting like this,” Robinson said. “One may look at this incident and think that it’s isolated. Nothing about this is isolated. This is a result of systemic racism bleeding all the way down from a Kroger security guard.”
Kroger released a statement on Motley’s death Tuesday.
“We are deeply saddened, extremely angry and horrified by this senseless violence,” the statement reads. “Our hearts are with the Motley family. This tragic incident involved a third-party contractor onsite to provide security services at our Poplar Avenue Fuel Center. We ask all third-party contractors to respect and honor our core values which include respect, diversity, and inclusion. We want to thank the Memphis Police Department for their swift action. The only outcome we seek is justice.”
