Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images
The ex-president Barack Obama and the former first lady Michelle Obama strongly criticized on Saturday the “cruel” beating that several Memphis police officersin Tennessee, they gave the African American Tyre Nicholswho died 3 days later in a hospital.
The Obamas reacted on Twitter to the video of the beating published yesterday, Friday, which sparked protests in several US cities.
“The cruel and unwarranted beating of Tire Nichols and his death at the hands of five Memphis police officers is just the latest painful reminder of how much America still has to do to fix the way police patrol our streets.” they said.
The vicious, unjustified beating of Tire Nichols and his ultimate death at the hands of five Memphis police officers is just the latest, painful reminder of how far America still has to go in fixing how we police our streets. pic.twitter.com/ITmrNNJhiT
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 28, 2023
The Obamas, the first African-American family to occupy the White House, added that every American has the choice to mobilize for change.
They said the responsibility lies with all people to “mobilise” to create change and included a link to an Obama Foundation web page for people to learn how communities can “reimagine public safety” to prevent crime and injustice.
Along with mourning Tire and supporting his family, it’s up to all of us to mobilize for lasting change. To learn more about how communities can reimagine public safety to prevent both crime and injustice, go to https://t.co/I39Nsel4vs.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 28, 2023
Obama, whose arrival at the White House in 2009 was interpreted as a sign of the end of discrimination against African-Americans, had to face during his time in power various moments of racial tension with protests over the murder of unarmed African American citizens at the hands of the police.
In Nichols’ case, all five police officers were African-American, have since been arrested and face various criminal charges, including second degree murder.
Videos released by Memphis authorities show Nichols being beaten by officers, kicking him in the head and swearing as the victim yelled, “Mom, Mom” and “give me a minute.”
It may interest you:
– Tire Nichols: Memphis deals with the violent and deadly arrest of a young African American by African American police officers
– Memphis authorities release video of violent police arrest that caused the death of Tire Nichols
– Protesters demand justice in the US after video of police abuse that caused the death of Tire Nichols