MEMPHIS – Tire Nichols protesters blocked traffic on a Memphis freeway Friday night after video was released showing police beating the black youth as they tried to arrest him.
“Stand up, fight back,” protesters on the I-55 bridge chanted, video captured by Fox News shows.
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Protesters gathered and marched after an hour of video was released showing police beating Nichols. The 29-year-old was hospitalized after the encounter, but died three days later.
“We shut it down,” a protester can be heard shouting.
“By any means necessary,” said another.
Memphis officers pulled Nichols out of his vehicle in the middle of the road and tried to pull him over, video shows. After a struggle, he finally escaped on foot, but officers found him again in a residential neighborhood.
Tire Nichols protesters block traffic on a Memphis freeway.
(Jon Michael Raasch/Fox News)
MEMPHIS BUSINESSES GET TOGETHER IN PREPARATION FOR TIRE NICHOLS’ BODYCAM VIDEO LAUNCH
There, police video showed officers beating Nichols. He was struck with a baton several times and repeatedly hit on the head as the officers yelled at him to “give us your hands.”
Several times, Nichols called out to his mother and yelled “stop.” Lawyers have said that he was within 100 meters of his mother’s house at the time.
Nichols was eventually handcuffed and leaned against a police car with his legs outstretched. He appeared unconscious and fell to the ground.
In one video, one officer can be heard telling another that Nichols was driving into oncoming traffic and refused to stop.
Memphis businesses board to prepare for potential violence ahead of release of Tire Nichols body cam footage.
(Fox News/Jon Michael Raasch)
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Nichols was transported to a hospital and arrived in critical condition. He died three days later as a result of a “use of force incident with officers,” according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Five police officers involved were charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and additional felony charges.
Nichols’ family and Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis have urged protesters to remain peaceful.
