New Delhi: US President Joe Biden on Saturday expressed his "heartbreak and grief" over the death of a Black motorist Tyre Nichols in Tennessee's Memphis. Tyre Nichols, 29, died three days after a 7 January traffic stop spiralled into a fatal physical assault. "My heart goes out to Tyre Nichols’ family and to Americans in Memphis and across the country who are grieving this tremendously painful loss. There are no words to describe the heartbreak and grief of losing a beloved child and young father," Biden wrote.
The statement comes after authorities released videos capturing the brutal police assault of Tyre Nichols. Acknowledging the same, Biden stated, "Like so many, I was outraged and deeply pained to see the horrific video of the beating that resulted in Tyre Nichols' death. It is yet another painful reminder of the profound fear and trauma, the pain, and the exhaustion that Black and Brown Americans experience every single day."
"The footage that was released this evening will leave people justifiably outraged. Those who seek justice should not to resort to violence or destruction. Violence is never acceptable; it is illegal and destructive. I join Mr. Nichols' family in calling for peaceful protest," Biden wrote urging for protests to remain peaceful.
He mentioned that he spoke to Nichols's mother and stepfather to express condolences, adding that his "whole family deserve a swift, full, and transparent investigation."
Videos released by the authorities show Tyre Nichols crying out repeatedly for his mother during the arrest in Memphis on January 7. As per a report by The Guardian, the family representatives said that the brutal assault took place about 100 yards from his mother’s home.
Videos show violence, cruelty, and profane language. Viewer discretion is advised.
The 29-year-old endured a three-minute attack, the Shelby county district attorney said. An attorney representing his family was reported as saying that an independent autopsy suggested that he “suffered extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating”.
The footage shows police officers using profanities and beating the FedEx worker punching him, kicking and striking him with what appears to be a baton. Officers pepper-sprayed Nichols, used a stun – gun and restrained him.
Five officers involved in the incident were fired last week and have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression. Online records of Shelby county sheriff’s office showed that Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr, Emmitt Martin III, and Justin Smith were taken into custody.
The five former officers accused in the case are all Black. Memphis police officials stated that the officers flouted “multiple department policies, including excessive use of force, duty to intervene, and duty to render aid”, The Guardian reported.
More On It: 5 Former US Cops Charged With Murder Over Death Of 29-Year-Old Man In Tennessee
Four of the five posted bail and were released by Friday morning, the BBC reported citing jail records.
Meanwhile, protests have been planned in New York, Washington, Chicago, Boston, Detroit, and Portland, Oregon.