A few bad apples will always spoil the whole bunch. It’s true in the produce section of your grocery store and it’s true in every real-life situation we encounter.
Such is the case of the young Black man, Tyre Nichols, in Memphis, Tennessee, who was beaten to death by five law enforcement officers of the same color.
Nichols was a 29-year-old and father of a 4-year-old son. He was employed by Fed Ex and was an avid skate boarder. He was currently living with his mother and stepfather in Memphis but had previously lived in Sacramento, California.
On the evening of Jan. 7, Nichols was stopped by police officers for an alleged reckless driving charge. It was there a confrontation occurred that quickly got out of hand. Nichols was beaten by the five officers and taken to the hospital where he died three days later from extensive bleeding brought on by a severe beating.
All five officers involved in the attack have been fired and are charged with murder for violating the obsessive use of force and failure to intervene and the duty to render aid.
Now I’ve always “backed the blue” and have great respect for the men and women in uniform. And I’ve had a few traffic tickets written with my name on them. The last one I got up the nerve to fight it and the gracious judge dismissed it out of court though I still had to pay a court cost of $75. My darling son accompanied me on court day and as we left the courthouse he said, “I’ll pay your court cost, mama. Merry Christmas.”
In the case of Nichols, I’m seeing and reading of the lowest of low of our respected crime fighters. I don’t see white supremacy as I’m hearing in the news reports. It was a simple case of the police brutality that resulted in an uncalled-for death. These officers should all stand trial and be convicted of their horrendous crime and be jailed for life for the life that was stolen from Nichols.
I can’t help but think that everything we learn in life we should have learned in kindergarten. The author Robert Fulghum wrote a book about basic rules in life we should all follow. One of his lessons is “play fair” and don’t hit people. These officers lacked compassion and self-control in tight situations. That’s not a good combination for the field of work they chose to be in.
Nichols was an unarmed young man who will never see his young son grow up, graduate or get married. He’ll never be a grandfather and rock grandchildren on his knee. It’s a tragic circumstance that never should have happened.
I don’t know what could have prevented this death. Body cams didn’t prevent it, though I confess, I couldn’t watch the whole video clip. It made me physically ill.
In defense of the brothers and sisters in blue, I know for a fact the majority of you are good, kind men and women. You’ve been trained in the matters of right and wrong and you would have handled this correctly, no matter what color your skin is. I salute those who do.
In closing today, the simple solution and answer is what happened to humanity? What made five police officers think it was necessary to beat a man to death for a reckless driving charge? I don’t know, but I suspect these five men will have a lot of time to figure it out behind bars at our expense. I also suspect it will cost the city of Memphis a hefty sum of money, as it should, though it won’t bring back Nichols. Perhaps it will compensate just a little for the small child who will never know his daddy and make his life a little easier. Perhaps it will pay for his education and ensure that he grows into an honest, decent human being. I’m so sorry, little one.
While reading the articles I came across one that claimed his last words during the fight were calling out for his mother, I can’t fathom her pain. As a mother myself it gives me a feeling of rage. These officers weren’t in any danger of harm from an unarmed man. This was five police, packing a side arm committing murder.
My deepest condolences to the family of Tyre Nichols.
