Police and Protesters Scuffle at Rally for Tyre Nichols | VOA News

Scuffles broke out Friday as police arrested at least three people at a demonstration in New York's Times Square demanding justice for Tyre Nichols, a Black man who died after he was beaten by Memphis police officers earlier in the month.

Police in the southern U.S. city of Memphis, Tennessee, released a video Friday evening showing five police officers beating to death Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, following a traffic stop.

The graphic video shows the officers brutally beating Nichols for three minutes. Two officers can be seen holding Nichols down while others kick and punch him. At least one officer uses a baton.

In one clip of the video footage, which runs over an hour and is taken from multiple cameras, Nichols can be heard crying out for his mother.

Memphis and other U.S. cities have been preparing for possible protests after police announced they would release the police bodycam and surveillance video of the beating. Nichols’ family has pleaded for any protests to remain peaceful.

Protests took place in Memphis on Friday night, with several dozen demonstrators blocking a heavily traveled bridge on Interstate 55. Demonstrators also gathered for rallies in Washington, Atlanta and New York. There were no immediate reports of violence.

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[davidcaunter]

The sad thing about this country is some people LIVE for events like this to happen.

[BggProductions]

If those men hadn't been in uniform the world wouldn't care or even know about Tyre Nichols.

Edit to clarify the point: if they hadn't been cops, if this had been yet another case of B on B crime then this story would never have been international news and none of you would be outraged.

[scottprather]

They're not honoring the memory of Tyree Nichols by getting violent

[pnwmax]

How does this do anything to honor him or hold law accountable?

[rikk]

A few people cause the problems and others get hurt.

[Flower-ir]

No matter how much the families want to show peacefulness, there are the few that chose chaos.

[Ontheroxxwithsalt]

These people always looking for an excuse to destroy. PERIOD.

[darlenehaines]

I'm sorry to see these people had no respect for Tyre's mother's wishes. Sad.

[kellywilliams]

His Mother has begged for this not to happen, she even mentioned that Tyre himself was not into this the last time. Can these people just give her the dignity and respect she deserves while grieving her child and his name not be associated with the destruction of cities. PLEASE PLEASE PROTESTERS! GIVE THE WOMAN PEACE!! AND NOT MORE PAIN!

[HamptonGuitars]

Note to all: This did NOT happen in Memphis!! It was peaceful here.

[voxwaya_music]

I watched the protests in Memphis and other states like DC and Boston...things seemed peaceful from what I gathered. NYC...of course it has to be NYC. Always

[Blessedbeneo]

Be at peace and pray. No reason for it to get violent. Violence begets violence. Love will win

[mister_dave]

As a cop, I welcome the accountability. There are some who don't and those are the ones we need removed. I do notice a trend that more and more cops are being charged which is needed. There are some of us that try to do the right thing. During my contacts now I keep incidents like these in my mind always try to de-escalate.

[motosotarc]

Black on Black crime is way out of hand!

[konnieratcliff]

The family didn't want this only peaceful protest to honor their son...my prayers and blessings for all.

[somethingsomethang]

So we should expect more rioting and looting in 2023.

[Anura]

Those officers were very excessive in their use of force, but the use of force was not unjustified. Tyre was driving recklessly, he was pulled over lawfully, he resisted, fled, and they used force (again, it was excessive).

If Tyre had complied, he’d still be alive to fight the charges in court. Period, end of story. It’s not racist, it’s fact. And don’t respond with “well Tyre was the calmest one in the video, blah, blah, blah.” It’s called PASSIVELY RESISTING.

To BLM and Antifa, good luck playing the white supremacy card since now you finally know that we all, no matter our race, are flawed. Let the courts decide the officers’ fate, don’t use Tyre’s family, and don’t throw temper tantrums and destroy businesses over some individual you don’t know. You don’t do it for the over 6, 000 blacks killed by black criminals each year (and go ahead, call it “whataboutism” or “deflecting”, it’s simply pointing out your amazing hypocrisy.)

Prove me wrong, just let the courts do their job. It’s your choice from here on

[mayomonkey]

When did we stop using fire hoses on these guys? They look like they could use a wash!

[alexciccone]

So much for obeying the family's wishes

[heavyd]

What does demonstrating and ultimately clashing with police in New York have to do with police brutality in Memphis?
Seems like the demonstrators just want an excuse to pick a fight.