U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris to attend Tyre Nichols’ funeral in Memphis – National | 24CA News

Vice President Kamala Harris plans to attend the funeral of Tyre Nichols, who died three days after he was overwhelmed by Memphis law enforcement officials simply minutes from his residence, the White House mentioned Tuesday.

Harris was invited to attend Wednesday’s funeral providers by Nichols’ mom and stepfather, RowVaughn Wells and Rodney Wells, in keeping with Harris’s press secretary, Kirsten Allen. Harris spoke by telephone with the Wells household on Tuesday, expressing her condolences and providing her help. President Joe Biden spoke by telephone to Nichols’ household final week.

Harris shall be joined by former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a senior adviser to the president for public engagement, and Mitch Landrieu, a White House senior advisor and infrastructure implementation coordinator, who’s a former mayor of New Orleans, Allen mentioned.

Five Black officers have been fired and charged with second-degree homicide and different offenses in Nichols’ Jan. 7 beating and subsequent demise. Video of the beating, which was launched publicly final week, reveals that many extra folks failed to assist Nichols, who was additionally Black, past the 5 officers charged in his demise.

Two extra Memphis law enforcement officials have been disciplined and three emergency responders fired in reference to Nichols’ demise, officers mentioned Monday. Officer Preston Hemphill, who’s white, and one other officer whose title wasn’t launched, have been suspended, police mentioned.

Nichols’ household, the Rev. Al Sharpton and lawyer Ben Crump had deliberate to collect Tuesday night on the historic Mason Temple in Memphis _ the place Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his ultimate speech the night time earlier than he was assassinated _ to talk about the most recent developments within the case. But dangerous climate brought on them to cancel that occasion.

Six of the officers concerned have been a part of the so-called Scorpion unit, which focused violent criminals in high-crime areas. Other Memphis residents who say in addition they have been “brutalized” by officers within the unit can even converse at Mason Temple, in keeping with a press release from Crump.

2:06Footage of Tyre Nichols’ demise sparks requires federal police reform within the U.S.

Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis mentioned after the video’s launch that the unit has been disbanded.

“It’s a step in the right direction, but due to the severity of the situation it’s not enough,” Damion Carrick mentioned as he participated in a protest Monday night at Shelby Farms Park. “You got a man dragged out of his car, beaten senseless, to a pulp and nobody doing nothing about it. It’s heartbreaking.”

Nichols’ demise was the most recent in a string of early accounts by police about their use of power that have been later proven to have minimized or omitted violent and typically lethal encounters.

Memphis Police Department officers used a stun gun, a baton and their fists as they pummeled Nichols throughout the nighttime arrest. Video reveals Nichols working away from officers towards his home after he was pulled over on suspicion of reckless driving. The video footage launched Friday reveals the 29-year-old father calling for his mom and struggling together with his accidents as he sits helpless on the pavement.

2:15Millions demand justice for Tyre Nichols throughout the U.S.

The 5 officers chatted and milled about for a number of minutes as Nichols remained on the bottom, however different authorities have been on the scene. Two Shelby County sheriff’s deputies even have been suspended with out pay whereas their conduct is investigated.

Nichols’ older brother, Jamal Dupree, informed CNN’s Don Lemon on Tuesday that he feels responsible as a result of he wasn’t there to guard his youthful sibling.

“I’m 99% sure that my brother has never gotten into a fight before. And the one time he got into an altercation with other humans, we wasn’t there to protect him. My brother was trying to cooperate with them,” Dupree, who lives in California, mentioned of the Memphis officers.

Dupree mentioned he hasn’t watched the police video.

“I already knew how they treated him because I’ve seen it all over the world,” Dupree mentioned. “Police brutality is nothing new. I already knew they treated my brother like an animal. They treated him like he was nothing. I don’t have to watch the video to know that.”

He mentioned he has seen studies about his brother and thinks different individuals are studying about who he was as an individual.

“I think people really know my brother did not deserve this,” he informed CNN. “He was not that type of person. Yeah, he was just a good guy around the board. … We want justice.”

Nichols’ sister, Keyana Dixon, was amongst greater than 100 associates, household and supporters who gathered for a candlelight vigil Monday night time at a skate park in Sacramento, the place Nichols grew up, The Sacramento Bee reported.

3:06Tyre Nichols demise: State leaders name for peaceable protests, accountability and justice

“This was his favorite place to skate,” she mentioned on the vigil. “I just want to thank all of you for your continued support for our family, and making sure his name is never forgotten.”

A childhood buddy, Ryan Wilson, mentioned he met Nichols at a skate park when he was 12 and so they turned quick associates, sharing their goals for the longer term. Nichols had some struggles whereas younger, however he targeted on making others completely satisfied, Wilson mentioned.

“I just feel like all he wanted to do was find his place in this world, and he just wanted to be happy,” Wilson mentioned.

RowVaughn and Rodney Wells have accepted an invite to attend President Joe Biden’s State of the Union handle subsequent week on the Capitol. They will attend with Rep. Steven Horsford, a Nevada Democrat and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, in keeping with Vincent Evans, a spokesperson for the caucus.

Nichols’ funeral is ready for Wednesday at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis. Sharpton will give the eulogy and Crump will converse instantly after the funeral. Those anticipated to be in attendance embrace Tamika Palmer, the mom of Breonna Taylor, and Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd.

The deaths of Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, and Floyd in Minneapolis, by the hands of police sparked protests throughout the nation about racial injustice.