Virginia's Power Players on Police Brutality #TyreNichols
TYRE🌹NICHOLS. With a mixture of frustration and anger, the reactions to the latest police brutality video of an unarmed Black person reveals that many are emotionally exhausted. The seemingly never ending scenario of violent police encounter + video = outrage has many in a posture of reflective outrage. Others call the performative nature of what follows after a violent and viral police encounter a kabuki dance that isn’t changing outcomes.
For policy makers trying to find a way to top police brutality qualified immunity is being mentioned again. On the federal level, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021 is being mentioned once again. The legislation was stopped in the U.S. Senate by South Carolina Republican Tim Scott over opposition to qualified immunity. The issue is cited as the number one reason police have opposed the legislation and are departing careers in law enforcement.
POLICE VIOLENCE ON VIDEO. It was once though that video would stop police violence. When the March 3, 1991 video of Black Los Angeles driver Rodney King being beaten by four members of the Los Angeles Police Department was broadcast, it was seen as one of the first evidentiary examples of how police were mistreating Black Americans.
The subject of police brutality was long complained about in the Black community. It was the focus of leaders from Malcolm X to John Lewis, who at 23 year old, mentioned police brutality during his Aug. 28, 1963 speech at the March on Washington.
Video capturing police brutality has not appeared to stop the problem. Instead, seeing violent treatment of Black Americans has proliferated with the advent of video on social media platforms and broadcast news. Several are now refusing to continue to watch what is essentially the same scenarios featuring different victims and perpetrators — but with one contant. Almost all of the targets are Black men.
“Don't watch the video if you don't plan to take action” — JaPharii Jones, BLM757
The moment has left those who create policy as a profession confront the deep questions of what to do in a society with 400 years of specific and systematic disregard of Black lives. When the results of that centuries long history shows itself on video repeatedly and contemporarily, the reactions are emotionally sharp.
“Wow. Just wow,” wrote 13NewsNow anchor Eugene Daniel moments after the debut of the Nichols video from Memphis Police.
“I’ve not seen the released video and I’m not watching. I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. We’ve seen this story for over 30 years. Next to nothing has changed. If anything, this tragedy underscores the urgency for increased accountability and broad-based reform. Period,” wrote former Norfolk Delegate Jay Jones at 7:11 a.m. this morning. Jones, who was a candidate for Attorney General in 2021, authored legislation on qualified immunity in his final months in late 2021.
“Another awful video of a Black man being beaten to death and dehumanized by PEACE officers sworn to protect us.
Tyre Nichols life was stolen. For nothing!
Anger, sadness and prayers are nice, but we have the power and responsibility to change policy and procedure. Let’s do that!”
— Leader Don Scott
“I can’t, I just can’t…” wrote former Delegate and candidate for Lt. Governor Hala Ayala. Currently, Ayala is running in a Democratic primary against former Delegate, attorney and candidate for Governor Jennifer Carroll Foy.
D.J. Jordan, Chief of Staff for Attorney General Jason Miyares told Black Virginia News that, “the use of video technology has improved the ability to hold Police accountable, but there is obviously more work to do. The Black law enforcement officers in Virginia that I’ve talked to are just as disgusted as anyone by what they saw in the Nichols video. We must enhance police training, and make sure Black officers and organizations like N.O.B.L.E. are at the table for these important conversations.”
“This is a really bad circumstance that is intersected by all of the issues of race and Black people’s interactions with the police,” attorney Phil Thompson, a former President of The Loudoun NAACP, told Black Virginia News.
“The one common denominator is, as usual, the overwhelming and tragic use of force to address a matter that on its face should have resulted in a traffic ticket. But until we address the core issues as to why the police constantly “over police” our community, whatever those factors may be, we will never prevent things like this from occurring in the future,” Thompson, who served in the military in the U.S. Marines, added.
“Like many across the nation, I was sickened & outraged at the video of the deadly beating of Tyre Nichols at the hands of police. This is the latest in a lengthy and disturbing list of incidents of police brutality and we cannot let this kind of behavior continue to go unanswered,” wrote Congressman Bobby Scott. Scott authored the Death in Custody Act that mandates reporting on deaths in police custody. It became law in 2014.
Rep. Scott then added: “I have twice voted for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and I would implore Congressional Republicans to stop blocking this critical piece of legislation, so we can have real police accountability and keep our communities safe.”
“White supremacy is the enforcement mechanism of this system of oppression that continues to harm Black people. Tyre Nichols’ life matters—our lives matter—whether this system recognizes it or not. Tyre should be alive right now, making our world better. This has to stop,” wrote formal Army Colonel Herb Jones who was a candidate for Congress in Virginia’s first district last year.
“Don't watch the video if you don't plan to take action,” wrote JaPharii Jones, the leader of Black Lives Matter 757, on social media. A protest is planned in Norfolk by Black Lives Matter 757 today at 8 p.m. at MLK Park in Norfolk.
In Hampton NAACP will hold a rally on Sunday, Jan. 29. The Justice for Tyre Peace Rally will be held at 3 p.m. at Hampton City Hall at 22 Lincoln Street.
“Tyre Nichols had memories, he had dreams, and he had a family. Tyre loved to skateboard; he loved watching sunsets. But, most importantly, he was a human being. Tyre Nichols is not here with us today because of a lack of basic humanity from the officers who took his life,” wrote Isaiah Martin last night.
Will the swift firings and indictments of the five Memphis Police Officers change the calculus this time? Stay tuned.
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