Tyre Nichols’ family asks public for peaceful protests on night of body cam footage release

The family of the late Tyre Nichols, a Memphis resident who was beaten to death by five police officers earlier this month, asked for the public’s support in lodging only peaceful protests on Friday night and in the coming days after the unedited body camera footage was released by Memphis authorities.

Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, spoke to a crowd in Memphis on Friday afternoon, the day after all five police officers involved in the brutal beating of Nichols were charged with second degree murder among other charges. During the speech, Wells urged members of the public who wish to protest for police reform and an end to police brutality to do so peacefully in her son’s honor.

Wells and her husband, Rodney Wells, have repeatedly called for peaceful protest since the details of Nichols’ killing broke. “I want each and every one of you to protest in peace. I don’t want us burning up our city, tearing up the streets because that is not what my son stood for,” said RowVaughn Wells at a vigil for her son on Thursday. “If you guys are here for Tyre and me, then you will protest peacefully.”

Nichols died a few days after being beaten by five Memphis police officers who were part of the so-called SCORPION Unit (Street Crime Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods), which was initially formed in 2021 to crack down on rising crime in the area. The body cam footage of the beating was released to the public on Friday evening after being viewed by his family and attorneys. Memphis officials have readied themselves for potential riots or rowdy protests, but at the time of this article, no major incidents have occurred at any of the Nichols protests around the country.