Memphis “Lynching”: Plot Thickens
White officer relieved of duty, three EMS personnel fired
Some of the bodycam footage getting big play was worn by a white police officer who was relieved of duty yesterday.
He was not arrested and charged perhaps because he didn’t participate in the actual beating of Nichols. If so, that’s evidence of the bizarre leadership culture which aids and abets what amounts to death squads prowling our streets.
If you were on-duty and present and you did not take verifiable actions to stop the violence, you are guilty.
CNN reports the white officer said, “I hope they stomp his ass.”
It can be hoped that the Feds will charge every cop present with violating Nichols’ civil rights.
Three EMTs have been fired and ABC News reports the fire department said,
“Our investigation has concluded that the two EMT’s responded based on the initial nature of the call (person pepper sprayed) and information they were told on the scene and failed to conduct an adequate patient assessment of Mr. Nichols.”
Since ABC reports that “Preliminary findings . . . show he was severely beaten before he died” and that he had “bled extensively”, wouldn’t a quick look reveal that the patient was suffering from significant trauma?
Nichols’ family attorney Ben Crump refers to the fatal beating as a “lynching.”
The archetypal lynching includes being dragged and then being viciously beaten followed often by hanging or burning.
It’s a lynching, all right.
Tyree Nichols ran for his life and then begged for his life at the merciless hands of cops paid to protect not murder.
True justice will be when supervisors and senior department officials are also held criminally accountable for the mayhem they unleashed — that’s how reform will happen.
Speaking of the Feds, the one who should feel particularly ashamed at this moment is former F.B.I Director James Comey who once said that “he continued to hear from police officials in private conversations that “lots and lots of police officers” are pulling back from aggressive confrontations with the public because of viral videos.” NYT
They’re not pulling back in Memphis or Minneapolis, either.
That six or more cops can be involved in such a murder after the death of George Floyd proves that no one is really safe and that nothing has been learned.
