by Don Mooney 2-1-2023
Memphis, TN—Cold weather did not deter the official homegoing services held at Mississippi Blvd for Tyre Nichols who was brutally beaten to death by five police officers for a perceived traffic stop. A long list of dignitaries and officials from around the country were in attendance including Vice-President of the United States Kamala Harris whose plane was delayed due to ice storm in Memphis. The delay is believed to have played a significant role in the start time being moved from 10:30am to 1:00pm.
Also in support and attendance to the Nichols family were mothers, from across the country, whose sons publically died at the hands of police. The mother of Eric Garner, George Floyds family, Botham Jean’s sister and the mother of Breona Taylor.
Major networks broadcast live coverage across the nation as Rev. Al Sharpton addressed family, friends and the nation pointing out what Blacks have cried out for so long about the one-sided treatment they receive at the hands of police in America.
Not In Pursuit of Public Safety
Rev. Sharpton introduced Vice-President Harris who briefly addressed, in particular the Nichols family. She touched the central issue of safety. “Yet we have a mother and a father who mourn the life of a young man who should be here today, began Harris. And when we look at this situation, this is a family that lost their son, and their brother in an act of violence at the hands and the feet of people who had been charged with keeping them safe, pleaded Harris.” “One must ask was not it in the interest of keeping the public safe that Tyre Nichols would be here with us today.”
How Dare You
Rev. Sharpton’s eulogy pulled from the biblical story of Joseph and how his brothers harmed him only to later be ruled over by their brother. Sharpton scolded the five Black officers action by historically contextualizing their actions with similar actions that occurred 55-years ago in this same city. Sharpton shares a story he told his daughter while they visited the Lorraine Hotel. How Dr. King lost his life and shed his blood here at the Lorraine Hotel some 55-years ago for Black city workers to be able to work in the police department. Work in sanitation. Spoke Sharpton, “The reason Mr. and Mrs. Wells what happened to Tyre is so personal to me, is that five Black men that wouldn’t have had a job in the police department. Would not ever be thought of to be in an elite squad. In a city that Dr. King lost his life. There’s nothing more insulting and offensive than to those of us to fight to open doors and you walk through those doors and you act like the folks we had to fight to get you through those doors,” strained Sharpton.
