Source: Scott Olson / Getty
The funeral for Tyre Nichols was held in Memphis on Wednesday afternoon, more than three weeks after he died from injuries sustained during a brutally violent arrest.
Not only did the Memphis community show up to pay its respects to one of their own, but Vice President Kamala Harris, family members of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and other notable figures were also in attendance during the homegoing service at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church.
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee also attended the funeral and got a rousing round of applause when introduced by the Rev. Al Sharpton, who delivered the eulogy.
Photos from the funeral show Nichols’ mother and stepfather grieving alongside Harris, who questioned the concept of safety during her speech to the audience.
“Was [Nichols] not also entitled to the right to be safe? So when we talk about public safety, let us understand what it means in its truest form. Tyre Nichols should have been safe,” Harris said.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Nichols’ family, delivered a call to action.
The funeral plans were revealed last week following autopsy results confirming Nichols suffered a “severe beating” before he succumbed to those injuries. Days later, the already-fired five officers involved in the traffic stop — all Black men — were arrested and charged with murder for their roles in the police brutality shown on staggering bodycam video footage likened to the Rodney King incident.
The City of Memphis last Friday night released bodycam footage showing the violent arrest that has resulted in the firings and arrests of five now-former police officers, all of whom have been charged with second-degree murder for the vicious attack.
In addition, three fire department workers were also fired, but not criminally charged, for neglecting to render aid to Nichols, 29. Several other police personnel have been disciplined for their roles, as well, but not fired.
Nichols’ mother said the bodycam video is evidence that the Memphis Police Department “murdered” her son.
Crump said the officers treated Nichols like “a human piñata” and compared the police violence to the infamous Rodney King beating in 1991.
Nichols’ older brother likened the death to Emmett Till.
“Knowing the history of police interactions with the Black community throughout time, these men took a position of power and instead of doing something to better the future and honor the past, they became no better than the days of Emmett Till,” Jamal Dupree said in a joint statement with friend Angelina Paxton. “They have let us all down. Justice will be served to them.”
NewsOne extends condolences to Nichols’ family. Scroll down to find a number of moving images from Nichols’ funeral in Memphis on Wednesday afternoon.
1. Rev. Al Sharpton Holds Funeral For Tyre Nichols In Memphis
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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 01: Rev. Al Sharpton delivers the eulogy for Tyre Nichols at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on February 1, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. On January 7th, 29-year-old Nichols was violently beaten for three minutes by Memphis police officers at a traffic stop and died of his injuries. Five Black Memphis Police officers have been fired after an internal investigation found them to be directly responsible for the beating and have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression. (Photo by Andrew Nelles-Pool/Getty Images) color image,photography,horizontal,usa,law,al sharpton,tennessee,memphis – tennessee,eulogy,tyre nichols
2. Rev. Al Sharpton Holds Funeral For Tyre Nichols In Memphis
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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 01: Flowers sit atop Tyre Nichols’ casket during his funeral service at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on February 1, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. On January 7th, 29-year-old Nichols was violently beaten for three minutes by Memphis police officers at a traffic stop and died of his injuries. Five Black Memphis Police officers have been fired after an internal investigation found them to be directly responsible for the beating and have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression. (Photo by Andrew Nelles-Pool/Getty Images) color image,photography,horizontal,usa,law,sitting,flower,funeral,coffin,tennessee,memphis – tennessee,on top of,tyre nichols
3. Rev. Al Sharpton Holds Funeral For Tyre Nichols In Memphis
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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 01: US Vice President Kamala Harris attends the funeral service for Tyre Nichols at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on February 1, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. On January 7th, 29-year-old Nichols was violently beaten for three minutes by Memphis police officers at a traffic stop and died of his injuries. Five Black Memphis Police officers have been fired after an internal investigation found them to be directly responsible for the beating and have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression. (Photo by Andrew Nelles-Pool/Getty Images) vertical,color image,photography,attending,usa,law,vice president,funeral,tennessee,memphis – tennessee,kamala harris,tyre nichols
4. Rev. Al Sharpton Holds Funeral For Tyre Nichols In Memphis
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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 01: People attend the funeral service for Tyre Nichols at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on February 1, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. On January 7th, 29-year-old Nichols was violently beaten for three minutes by Memphis police officers at a traffic stop and died of his injuries. Five Black Memphis Police officers have been fired after an internal investigation found them to be directly responsible for the beating and have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression. (Photo by Andrew Nelles-Pool/Getty Images) color image,photography,people,attending,horizontal,usa,law,funeral,tennessee,memphis – tennessee,tyre nichols
5. Rev. Al Sharpton Holds Funeral For Tyre Nichols In Memphis
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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 01: Philonise Floyd, George Floyd’s brother, and his wife Keeta Floyd, attend the funeral service for Tyre Nichols at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on February 1, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. On January 7th, 29-year-old Nichols was violently beaten for three minutes by Memphis police officers at a traffic stop and died of his injuries. Five Black Memphis Police officers have been fired after an internal investigation found them to be directly responsible for the beating and have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression. (Photo by Andrew Nelles-Pool/Getty Images) vertical,color image,photography,attending,usa,law,males,funeral,wife,brother,tennessee,memphis – tennessee,george floyd,philonise floyd,tyre nichols
6. Rev. Al Sharpton Holds Funeral For Tyre Nichols In Memphis
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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 01: Former New Orleans mayor Mitchell Joseph Landrieu is recognized during the funeral service for Tyre Nichols at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on February 1, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. On January 7th, 29-year-old Nichols was violently beaten for three minutes by Memphis police officers at a traffic stop and died of his injuries. Five Black Memphis Police officers have been fired after an internal investigation found them to be directly responsible for the beating and have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression. (Photo by Andrew Nelles-Pool/Getty Images) color image,photography,horizontal,usa,law,funeral,new orleans,identity,former,tennessee,mayor,memphis – tennessee,tyre nichols
7. Rev. Al Sharpton Holds Funeral For Tyre Nichols In Memphis
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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 01: Rev. Al Sharpton listens as US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during the funeral service for Tyre Nichols at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on February 1, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. On January 7th, 29-year-old Nichols was violently beaten for three minutes by Memphis police officers at a traffic stop and died of his injuries. Five Black Memphis Police officers have been fired after an internal investigation found them to be directly responsible for the beating and have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression. (Photo by Andrew Nelles-Pool/Getty Images) color image,photography,horizontal,usa,talking,law,vice president,funeral,al sharpton,listening,tennessee,memphis – tennessee,kamala harris,tyre nichols
8. Rev. Al Sharpton Holds Funeral For Tyre Nichols In Memphis
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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 01: Philonise Floyd, George Floyd’s brother, is recognized during the funeral service for Tyre Nichols at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on February 1, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. On January 7th, 29-year-old Nichols was violently beaten for three minutes by Memphis police officers at a traffic stop and died of his injuries. Five Black Memphis Police officers have been fired after an internal investigation found them to be directly responsible for the beating and have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression. (Photo by Andrew Nelles-Pool/Getty Images) color image,photography,horizontal,usa,law,males,funeral,brother,identity,tennessee,memphis – tennessee,george floyd,philonise floyd,tyre nichols
9. Rev. Al Sharpton Holds Funeral For Tyre Nichols In Memphis
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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 01: Signs are placed on the steps of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on the morning of Tyre Nichols’ funeral on February 1, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. On January 7th, 29-year-old Nichols was violently beaten for three minutes by Memphis police officers at a traffic stop and died of his injuries. Five Black Memphis Police officers have been fired after an internal investigation found them to be “directly responsible” for the beating and have been charged with “second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression.” (Photo by Lucy Garrett/Getty Images) color image,no people,photography,horizontal,usa,law,funeral,tennessee,memphis – tennessee,arranging,tyre nichols
10. Rev. Al Sharpton Holds Funeral For Tyre Nichols In Memphis
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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 01: Civil rights attorney Ben Crump (C) arrives at the funeral for Tyre Nichols on February 1, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. On January 7th, 29-year-old Nichols was violently beaten for three minutes by Memphis police officers at a traffic stop and died of his injuries. Five Black Memphis Police officers have been fired after an internal investigation found them to be directly responsible for the beating and have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression. (Photo by Lucy Garrett/Getty Images) color image,photography,people,horizontal,usa,arrival,law,civil rights,funeral,three quarter length,five people,tennessee,lawyer,memphis – tennessee,politics and government,benjamin crump – attorney,tyre nichols
11. US-POLICE-JUSTICE-NICHOLS-FUNERAL
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Flowers are delivered to the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church ahead of Tyre Nichols’ funeral in Memphis, Tennessee, on February 1, 2023. – Nichols, 29, was stopped on January 7, 2023, for what the Memphis Police Department said was reckless driving. After a chase ensued, “police brutalized him to the point of being unrecognizable,” family attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci said in a statement. Nichols was taken to hospital in critical condition, according to police, where he died on January 10, 2023. (Photo by SETH HERALD / AFP) (Photo by SETH HERALD/AFP via Getty Images) photography,horizontal,usa,law,flower,funeral,human interest,social issues,police force,violence,racism,tennessee,memphis – tennessee,murder,criminal investigation,tyre nichols
12. US-POLICE-JUSTICE-NICHOLS-FUNERAL
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Attorney Ben Crump (C) arrives at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church ahead of Tyre Nichols’ funeral in Memphis, Tennessee, on February 1, 2023. – Nichols, 29, was stopped on January 7, 2023, for what the Memphis Police Department said was reckless driving. After a chase ensued, “police brutalized him to the point of being unrecognizable,” family attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci said in a statement. Nichols was taken to hospital in critical condition, according to police, where he died on January 10, 2023. (Photo by SETH HERALD / AFP) (Photo by SETH HERALD/AFP via Getty Images) photography,horizontal,usa,arrival,law,funeral,human interest,social issues,police force,violence,racism,tennessee,lawyer,memphis – tennessee,murder,benjamin crump – attorney,criminal investigation,tyre nichols
13. Rev. Al Sharpton Holds Funeral For Tyre Nichols In Memphis
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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 01: RowVaughn Wells and her husband Rodney Wells arrive for the funeral service for her son Tyre Nichols at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on February 1, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. On January 7th, 29-year-old Nichols was violently beaten for three minutes by Memphis police officers at a traffic stop and died of his injuries. Five Black Memphis Police officers have been fired after an internal investigation found them to be directly responsible for the beating and have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression. (Photo by Andrew Nelles-Pool/Getty Images) color image,photography,horizontal,usa,adult,arrival,law,males,men,son,funeral,tennessee,husband,memphis – tennessee,tyre nichols
14. Rev. Al Sharpton Holds Funeral For Tyre Nichols In Memphis
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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 01: RowVaughn Wells stops in front of the casket of her son Tyre Nichols at the start of his funeral service at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on February 1, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. On January 7th, 29-year-old Nichols was violently beaten for three minutes by Memphis police officers at a traffic stop and died of his injuries. Five Black Memphis Police officers have been fired after an internal investigation found them to be directly responsible for the beating and have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression. (Photo by Andrew Nelles-Pool/Getty Images) color image,photography,horizontal,usa,beginnings,law,males,son,funeral,coffin,tennessee,memphis – tennessee,in front of,tyre nichols
15. Rev. Al Sharpton Holds Funeral For Tyre Nichols In Memphis
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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 01: Rev. Al Sharpton arrives during the funeral service for Tyre Nichols at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on February 1, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. On January 7th, 29-year-old Nichols was violently beaten for three minutes by Memphis police officers at a traffic stop and died of his injuries. Five Black Memphis Police officers have been fired after an internal investigation found them to be directly responsible for the beating and have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression. (Photo by Andrew Nelles-Pool/Getty Images) color image,photography,horizontal,usa,arrival,law,funeral,al sharpton,tennessee,memphis – tennessee,tyre nichols
16. Rev. Al Sharpton Holds Funeral For Tyre Nichols In Memphis
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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 01: Rev. Dr. J. Lawrence Turner speaks during the funeral service for Tyre Nichols at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on February 1, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. On January 7th, 29-year-old Nichols was violently beaten for three minutes by Memphis police officers at a traffic stop and died of his injuries. Five Black Memphis Police officers have been fired after an internal investigation found them to be directly responsible for the beating and have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression. (Photo by Andrew Nelles-Pool/Getty Images) color image,photography,horizontal,usa,talking,law,funeral,tennessee,memphis – tennessee,tyre nichols
17. Rev. Al Sharpton Holds Funeral For Tyre Nichols In Memphis
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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 01: The Celebration Choir performs during the funeral service for Tyre Nichols at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on February 1, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. On January 7th, 29-year-old Nichols was violently beaten for three minutes by Memphis police officers at a traffic stop and died of his injuries. Five Black Memphis Police officers have been fired after an internal investigation found them to be directly responsible for the beating and have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression. (Photo by Andrew Nelles-Pool/Getty Images) color image,photography,horizontal,usa,performance,law,funeral,tennessee,memphis – tennessee,choir,tyre nichols
18. Rev. Al Sharpton Holds Funeral For Tyre Nichols In Memphis
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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 01: Musicians begin the funeral service for Tyre Nichols at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on February 1, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. On January 7th, 29-year-old Nichols was violently beaten for three minutes by Memphis police officers at a traffic stop and died of his injuries. Five Black Memphis Police officers have been fired after an internal investigation found them to be directly responsible for the beating and have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression. (Photo by Andrew Nelles-Pool/Getty Images) color image,photography,horizontal,musician,usa,beginnings,law,funeral,tennessee,memphis – tennessee,tyre nichols
19. US-POLICE-JUSTICE-NICHOLS-FUNERAL
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Attorney Ben Crump (2nd L) and Tyre Nichols’ parents, RowVaughn Wells (C) and Rodney Wells (2nd R), arrive at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church ahead of the funeral service for Nichols, in Memphis, Tennessee, February 1, 2023. – Nichols, 29, was stopped on January 7, 2023, for what the Memphis Police Department said was reckless driving. After a chase ensued, “police brutalized him to the point of being unrecognizable,” family attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci said in a statement. Nichols was taken to hospital in critical condition, according to police, where he died on January 10, 2023. (Photo by SETH HERALD / AFP) (Photo by SETH HERALD/AFP via Getty Images) photography,horizontal,usa,law,parent,funeral,human interest,social issues,police force,violence,racism,tennessee,lawyer,memphis – tennessee,murder,benjamin crump – attorney,criminal investigation,tyre nichols
20. Rev. Al Sharpton Holds Funeral For Tyre Nichols In Memphis
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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 01: Rev. Dr. Keith Norman speaks during the funeral service for Tyre Nichols at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on February 1, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. On January 7th, 29-year-old Nichols was violently beaten for three minutes by Memphis police officers at a traffic stop and died of his injuries. Five Black Memphis Police officers have been fired after an internal investigation found them to be directly responsible for the beating and have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression. (Photo by Andrew Nelles-Pool/Getty Images) color image,photography,horizontal,usa,talking,law,funeral,tennessee,memphis – tennessee,tyre nichols
21. Rev. Al Sharpton Holds Funeral For Tyre Nichols In Memphis
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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 01: US Vice President Kamala Harris sits with RowVaughn Wells and Rodney Wells during the funeral service for Wells’ son Tyre Nichols at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on February 1, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. On January 7th, 29-year-old Nichols was violently beaten for three minutes by Memphis police officers at a traffic stop and died of his injuries. Five Black Memphis Police officers have been fired after an internal investigation found them to be directly responsible for the beating and have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression. (Photo by Andrew Nelles-Pool/Getty Images) color image,photography,horizontal,usa,topix,law,males,sitting,vice president,son,funeral,tennessee,memphis – tennessee,kamala harris,tyre nichols
22. Rev. Al Sharpton Holds Funeral For Tyre Nichols In Memphis
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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 01: Tiffany Rachal performs during the funeral service for Tyre Nichols at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on February 1, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. On January 7th, 29-year-old Nichols was violently beaten for three minutes by Memphis police officers at a traffic stop and died of his injuries. Five Black Memphis Police officers have been fired after an internal investigation found them to be directly responsible for the beating and have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression. (Photo by Andrew Nelles-Pool/Getty Images) vertical,color image,photography,usa,performance,law,funeral,tennessee,memphis – tennessee,tyre nichols
23. Rev. Al Sharpton Holds Funeral For Tyre Nichols In Memphis
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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 01: Rev. Dr. Rosalyn Nichols speaks during the funeral service for Tyre Nichols at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on February 1, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. On January 7th, 29-year-old Nichols was violently beaten for three minutes by Memphis police officers at a traffic stop and died of his injuries. Five Black Memphis Police officers have been fired after an internal investigation found them to be directly responsible for the beating and have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression. (Photo by Andrew Nelles-Pool/Getty Images) color image,photography,horizontal,usa,talking,law,funeral,tennessee,memphis – tennessee,tyre nichols
24. US-POLICE-JUSTICE-NICHOLS-FUNERAL
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A man holds a sign displaying Tyre Nichols name outside of the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church ahead of Tyre Nichols funeral in Memphis, Tennessee, on February 1, 2023. – Nichols, 29, was stopped on January 7, 2023, for what the Memphis Police Department said was reckless driving. After a chase ensued, “police brutalized him to the point of being unrecognizable,” family attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci said in a statement. Nichols was taken to hospital in critical condition, according to police, where he died on January 10, 2023. (Photo by SETH HERALD / AFP) (Photo by SETH HERALD/AFP via Getty Images) photography,horizontal,usa,adult,law,outdoors,men,funeral,human interest,identity,social issues,police force,violence,racism,tennessee,memphis – tennessee,murder,showing,criminal investigation,tyre nichols
25. US-POLICE-JUSTICE-NICHOLS-FUNERAL
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American filmmaker Spike Lee enters the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church ahead of Tyre Nichols funeral in Memphis, Tennessee, on February 1, 2023. – Nichols, 29, was stopped on January 7, 2023, for what the Memphis Police Department said was reckless driving. After a chase ensued, “police brutalized him to the point of being unrecognizable,” family attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci said in a statement. Nichols was taken to hospital in critical condition, according to police, where he died on January 10, 2023. (Photo by SETH HERALD / AFP) (Photo by SETH HERALD/AFP via Getty Images) photography,horizontal,usa,law,film director,funeral,human interest,social issues,police force,violence,racism,tennessee,entering,memphis – tennessee,murder,spike lee,criminal investigation,tyre nichols
26. US-POLICE-JUSTICE-NICHOLS-FUNERAL
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Ice coats tree branches outside of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church ahead of Tyre Nichols funeral in Memphis, Tennessee, on February 1, 2023. – Nichols, 29, was stopped on January 7, 2023, for what the Memphis Police Department said was reckless driving. After a chase ensued, “police brutalized him to the point of being unrecognizable,” family attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci said in a statement. Nichols was taken to hospital in critical condition, according to police, where he died on January 10, 2023. (Photo by SETH HERALD / AFP) (Photo by SETH HERALD/AFP via Getty Images) photography,horizontal,usa,law,outdoors,funeral,tree,human interest,social issues,police force,violence,racism,tennessee,memphis – tennessee,murder,criminal investigation,tyre nichols
