Americans protest in anger, rally for justice as beating video of Tyre Nichols is shown

by LENNY COHEN | The National Desk

Sat, January 28th 2023, 3:15 AM UTC

Protesters march down the street Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn., as authorities release police video depicting five Memphis officers beating Tyre Nichols, whose death resulted in murder charges and provoked outrage at the country's latest instance of police brutality. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Protesters gather in Lafayette Park outside the White House in Washington, Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, over the death of Tyre Nichols, who died after being beaten by Memphis police. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Nadine Seilers, of Waldorf, Md., demonstrates in Lafayette Park outside the White House in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, over the death of Tyre Nichols, who died after being beaten by Memphis police. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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Protesters march down the street Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn., as authorities release police video depicting five Memphis officers beating Tyre Nichols, whose death resulted in murder charges and provoked outrage at the country's latest instance of police brutality. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (TND) — Peaceful protests and rallies took place Friday evening in Memphis and other cities across the country after authorities released video showing the beating of Tyre Nichols, who later died.

People held signs and chanted. There were speeches condemning the police who beat Nichols and police departments in general, and calls for justice after the public release of the video showing five officers savagely beating Nichols.

In Memphis, protesters chanted: “Say his name! Tyre Nichols!” and several dozen protesters blocked a heavily traveled bridge on Interstate 55 — one of two main spans connecting Arkansas and Tennessee over the Mississippi River.

In Washington, D.C., calls of "Justice for Tyre Nichols" took place at Lafayette Square.

Protesters also marched in Philadelphia and Boston.

The video released Friday night shows five Black officers punching and kicking the 29-year-old FedEx worker for three minutes. The Nichols family’s legal team compared the assault to the infamous 1991 police beating of Los Angeles motorist Rodney King.

Nichols died after three days in the hospital. The officers were quickly fired and Thursday, they were charged with second-degree murder.

Nichols’ family, officials in Memphis and other cities prepared for the video’s release, asking people to remain calm despite strong emotion and anger.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.

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