VP Kamala Harris, Rev. Al Sharpton and family honor Tyre Nichols at his funeral – FOX13 News Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Tire Nichols, who died on January 10, 2023, three days after five former Memphis police officers were caught on camera beating the 29-year-old at the intersection of Ross Road and Raines Road, was honored by family and friends. dignitaries at his funeral service on February 1.

Nichols’ funeral was held at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee.

Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith, the five former Memphis police officers MPD said beat Nichols in that video, were all charged with two counts of official misconduct, one count of official assault, one count of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated assault, and two counts of aggravated assault. kidnapping.

TIRE NICHOLS’ MOTHER, FAMILY AND MOURNERS SAY GOODBYE

“It’s just unbelievable that this is happening to him,” said RowVaughn Wells, Nichols’ mother.

Nichols was buried Wednesday at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis.

“I promise you the only thing that keeps me going is that I believe my son was sent here on a mission from God,” Wells said.

Nichols’ mother, brother and siblings spoke at the funeral.

“We look forward to getting justice for all the families out there, not just our own,” said Rodney Wells, Nichols’ father.

Reverend Al Sharpton praised Nichols.

“Let’s get rid of qualified immunity and see if you learn the same manners you did on the white side of town,” Reverend Sharpton said. “Well, Reverend, you don’t understand. How are they going to contain crime in the black community and not be harsh and rough at the same time?” Pastor Sharpton continued. “Well, they do it the same way they do on the white side of town and they keep crime down without roughness. How do you have the same department and reduce crime on one side of town without beating people to death, but can’t do it on the other side of town? I can’t speak for everyone, but for me I believe if that man had been white you wouldn’t have beaten him like that, that night… In the town where Doctor King lost his life, not far from that balcony you have a brother beaten to death. There is nothing so insulting and insulting to those of us who fought to open doors and you walk through those doors and act like the people we had to fight for to get you through those doors,” Rev. Sharpton said.

LIVE UPDATES FROM FUNERAL

TO UPDATE:

View the service below:

TO UPDATE:

Tire Nichols’ funeral ended around 3:15 p.m. Wednesday.

After the service, Ben Crump and Reverend Al Sharpton held a press conference to answer questions about Nichols’ death investigation.

TO UPDATE:

Tire Nichols’ stepfather said that when he and his wife learned of Nichols’ death, “it was surrounded by lies and deceit.” Watch what they had to say at their son’s funeral below:

TO UPDATE:

The Tire Nichols siblings share memories, stories and a poem in his honor:

Nichols’ brother explained how Tire got its name. He said it was from the movie “Silverado”.

One of his brothers said that as a kid, Ty, as they called him, loved to watch cartoons with a bowl of cereal.

One of his sisters said Nichols was the little brother, with 11 years between him and her.

TO UPDATE:

Ben Crump, Tire Nichols’ family attorney, is seeking justice in Nichols’ death:

TO UPDATE:

The Rev. Al Sharpton announced that director Spike Lee will be in attendance along with Vice President Kamala Harris before introducing Tire Nichols’ parents.

TO UPDATE:

Watch Rev. Al Sharpton’s full eulogy below:

TO UPDATE:

In a speech, Nichols family attorney Ben Crump pointed out that Tamika Palmer, Breonna Taylor’s mother, was also present and said that both Tire Nichols and Taylor had the same birthday: June 5, 1993.

Taylor was killed by police in Louisville, Kentucky, on March 13, 2020, during a botched raid on her apartment.

TO UPDATE:

“This is a family that lost their son and their brother to an act of violence at the hands and feet of the people who attacked to keep them safe,” said Vice President Kamala Harris in her speech.

TO UPDATE:

Vice President Kamala Harris was brought to the podium to speak at Tire Nichols’ funeral. In an apparently impromptu speech that lasted about 5 minutes, she said that if it weren’t for the “act of violence” by the Memphis police officers, “Tyre Nichols would be with us today.”

Watch Harris’ speech below:

TO UPDATE:

Mississippi Blvd Celebration Choir continues to celebrate Tire Nichols’ life:

TO UPDATE:

Reverend Keith Norman addressed those in attendance in a speech that lasted nearly three minutes.

“Look, God’s house is now among his people. He will dwell with them and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes and there will be no more death, no more sorrow, no crying and no more pain. These things are gone forever and the one who sat on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new and then he said to me, ‘Write this down, because what I tell you is reliable and true,’ said Norman during the reading new testament during the service.

TO UPDATE:

“Our faith gives us confidence that if God is for us, who can be against us? So today, as we celebrate Tire’s life and comfort this family, let’s let this nation know that the rerun of this episode making hashtags for black lives has been canceled and will not be renewed for another season. We have come and we will prevail in the fight for justice for our brother Tire Nichols,” Dr. J. Lawrence Turner said in part during an introduction that lasted nearly five minutes.

TO UPDATE:

The Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church Celebration Choir welcomed all who came to celebrate the life of Tire Nichols.

TO UPDATE:

The funeral begins with a procession by Rev. Al Sharpton, the family of Clergy and Nichols. The Celebration Choir will then play a musical selection, followed by a reading of Old Testament scriptures. Reverend Dr. Rosalyn Nichols of Freedom’s Chapel Christian Church will then offer a prayer of comfort. The Celebration Choir will play another musical selection, followed by a reading of Nichols’ obituary and a photo montage. Rev. Dr. J. Lawerence Turner then conducts the introduction to the eulogy, followed by another musical celebration by the Celebration Choir. Rev.

Al Sharpton will then deliver Nichols’ eulogy and civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Nichols’ family, will deliver a Call to Justice. The Nichols family will then hold a reflection and Rev. Rodney Woodley, Rev. Dr. Earle Fisher, Bishop Marvin Thomas, and Bishop Brandon Porter will all offer words of comfort. Special guests and elected officials in attendance, including Vice President Kamala Harris, will be recognized and then the blessing will be delivered by Rev. Deves Toon, the National Field Director of the National Action Network.

FIRST ENTRY

FOX13 cameras were rolling when Nichols’ coffin was rolled into the church just after 10 a.m.

©2022 Imagicomm Memphis, Inc.