The Naked Truth/Jamala Rogers
Tone Deaf Policing Needs a Different Response
Another horrific, public cop murder of a Black man. Tyre Nichols suffered his deadly encounter with Memphis police under the guise of a traffic stop. He died three days later without ever gaining consciousness. The fact that it was Black cops only increased the outrage because of all people, they should know the reality of the relationship between police and the African American community.
Nichols had to know at some point during the vicious attack that he wasn’t going to make it. I didn’t need to watch the video to know what happened; the image of a barely recognizable Nichols lying in a hospital bed was enough.
The number of first responders who participated in the savage beatdown of Tyre Nichols is growing. Five cops and three Memphis FD personnel have already been fired; two cops were suspended pending further investigation. The disgusting incident is vivid proof that the racist institution of policing is still tone death to the cries of justice by communities of color.
Despite the world-wide mass mobilizations in response to U. S. police terrorism, it is getting more brazen. Police unions and associations are growing more hostile and resistant to change. They are doubling down and passing laws in red states that give them even more protection from justice-seeking voters.
The Republican strategy is about bolstering white supremacy. The strategy will always give more power and money to police regardless of their inhumane and illegal actions. Their buddies in the law enforcement can count on them for unconditional support.
Police departments obviously need more pressure. Rogue cops need to feel some pain in their individual pockets. For example, when cops are suspended pending investigations, it should be without pay. If they get reinstated, so does their pay. We need to shift the financial burden of civil lawsuits to individual cops. Multimillion-dollar payouts to victims mean nothing to them. The money doesn’t come out of their pockets. It’s time that it does, and some cities are moving in that direction.
The justice-seeking public must fight for more than the firing of rogue cops. The demands must be for conviction and sentencing. How many times have we prematurely rejoiced at indictments of killer cops, only to see them walk out the courtroom free men and women?
In a city where Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated nearly fifty-five years ago, I’m hoping the Memphis community will be inspired to honor his legacy by fighting for a judicial system that is just and humane, that the death of Tyre Nichols will not be in vain.
For the rest of the nation who just celebrated the birthday of Dr. King, ours must be a commitment to creating a world that values the lives and aspirations of a Tyre Nichols.