29-year-old Tyre Nichols was pulled over Jan. 7 for what police said was reckless driving. After attempting to flee on foot, Nichols was aggressively beaten by police. Three days later, he died in the hospital.

5 former Memphis police officers face 2nd-degree murder

Fmr. NYPD Det.: Tyre Nichols’ video is ‘toxic police culture manifest’

Phillip Atiba Goff, Marq Claxton, and Jelani Cobb join MSNBC’s Ali Velshi to discuss the “aggressive physical force” displayed on video by the officers who fatally beat Tyre Nichols after a traffic stop, the “toxic police culture” that caused another deadly police encounter and the lack of ability to enact meaningful change to prevent future incidents.

The Beating of Tyre Nichols is eerily similar to the beating of Rodney King which occurred on March 3, 1991.

On the audiotape, an officer can be heard describing the beating. And on the amateur videotape of the incident, Powell can be seen speaking into his hand-held radio. Powell is shown on the videotape grabbing his radio just seconds after he stopped striking King with his baton, and as other officers swarmed around the motorist and handcuffed and hogtied his hands and feet.

“We need an RA (rescue ambulance) at Foothill and Osborne” streets, Powell is heard saying into the radio microphone. Referring to King, Powell says the officers had a “victim of ah, . . . ah . . . “ As Powell seems to falter, a voice in the background says, “beating.”

At that point, laughter can be heard, and Powell says, “Yeah . . . numerous head wounds.” LaShon Frierson, an LAPD radio communications official, then testified that it was “unusual” to hear such “laughing and giggling” on a police radio. Frierson also said it was unusual for a police officer to pause because he needs help describing a crime scene he has just witnessed.

Koon sent his message just two minutes after Powell radioed about the beating. “U (unit) just had a big-time use of force,” Koon wrote in the computer message. “Tased and beat the suspect of a CHP pursuit big time.”

Why Bad Cops Aren’t Punished

“Qualified Immunity” is a law which protects bad cops from being held PERSONALLY responsible so they can be SUED for their conduct. Eliminating Qualified Immunity would make cops think twice about engaging in abusive conduct like they did to Tyre Nichols. If they knew they would be PERSONALLY SUED if they abused Tyre Nichols, he and thousands of others who bad cops abuse and murdered would still be alive today.

REPUBLICANS  wants to keep Qualified Immunity intact… DEMOCRATS want Qualified Immunity eliminated so bad cops can be held accountable.

Therefore REPUBLICANS are partly responsible for Tyre Nichols death.

Ending Qualified Immunity Once and For All is the Next Step in Holding Police Accountable | News & Commentary | American Civil Liberties Union

As protesters filled the streets last summer to decry the tragic killings by police of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and countless others, they brought signs and slogans with them. Poster board and cardboard pieces were lifted into the air with firm demands scrawled across them: “Justice for George,” “#SayHerName,” “I Can’t Breathe,” and “No Justice, No Peace” were familiar phrases bobbing amongst the sea of activists.

Per the above article: “Ending Qualified Immunity Once and For All is the Next Step in Holding Police Accountable”

“Qualified immunity fosters an environment where government agents, including police, may feel empowered to violate people’s rights with the knowledge they will face few consequences. This erodes relationships with the community and diminishes the system’s credibility. Under qualified immunity, lives can be taken with impunity. It’s past time to heed the protesters’ signs, and end this doctrine once and for all”.

• President Biden has already committed to the creation of a national, model use-of-force standard as one of his racial equity priorities. The ACLU is currently lobbying Congress to pass legislation that ensures this model standard truly conforms to the best practices in the field by embracing the principles set forth in the PEACE Act, which would permit officers to use force only when necessary, proportional, and as a last resort, after less extreme alternatives are exhausted. That standard would not only apply to federal agents, it would provide incentives to state and local police departments to adopt the rule.
• Ayanna Pressley’s End Qualified Immunity Act would end qualified immunity for state and local actors.

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