Congressional black caucus calls for meeting with Biden on policing after Memphis murder
The Congressional Black Caucus requested a meeting with President Biden to discuss policing and other justice reforms on Sunday amid national outcry over the police killing of Tire Nichols.
The CBC calls on Biden to meet with the groups this week and urges the House and Senate to “restart negotiations.” The request comes days after police in Memphis, Tennessee released footage of five officers brutally beating Nichols during a traffic stop earlier in January, resulting in his death in hospital.
“[The] CBC is requesting a meeting with the President this week to advance negotiations on much-needed national reforms to our justice system, particularly the actions and conduct of our law enforcement,” the group wrote.
“No one in our country should be afraid to interact with the police officers who serve our diverse communities, large and small. We all want to be safe,” the group added. “Many black and brown people, however, and many young people in general, are rightly afraid to interact with law enforcement officials.”
TIRE NICHOLS: AL SHARPTON CONDEMNS VIOLENT PROTESTERS FOR ‘ASSISTING THE POLICE’ AFTER TIMES SQUARE ARRESTS
Memphis Police Department officers Demetrius Haley, Tadarrius Bean, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills and Justin Smith were fired Jan. 18 for their roles in the arrest of the late Tire Nichols.
(Memphis Police Department)
This photo provided by the Nichols family shows Tire Nichols, who is an avid photographer and described by friends as cheerful and adorable.
(Courtesy of the Nichols family via AP)
Officials released footage of Nichols’ beating on Friday. It shows five officers punching, kicking and beating Nichols with batons as he lies face down on January 7. He died of his injuries in hospital three days later.
The five former officers – Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith – were all fired on January 18. They each face seven counts: second degree murder; aggravated assault, act in concert; two counts of aggravated kidnapping; two counts of official misconduct; and official oppression.
FORMER MEMPHIS COP CHARGED IN DEATH OF TIRE NICHOLS ALLEGEDLY BEATING INMATE IN 2015
Police Superintendent Cerelyn “CJ” Davis, who became the first woman to lead the Memphis department just 20 months ago, also permanently disbanded the the city’s so-called Scorpion unit the Saturday. The Unit comprised all five officers and focused on the prevention and suppression of street crimes.
President Biden delivers remarks during a meeting with Democratic congressional leaders in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Tuesday, January 24, 2023.
(Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., arrives for the start of the House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the release of former President Donald Trump’s tax returns on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. (Bill Clark /CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
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The five officers are to be arrested on February 17.
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