Statement Regarding Tyre Nichols
With the death of Tyre Nichols, people across our nation are demanding answers as to why and how a simple traffic stop escalated to a man losing his life. In response to this heinous act, his family and the community have called for transparency and justice in the city's investigation. So far, we've seen five police officers fired and booked on various charges related to the brutal attack, and we will watch closely as those responsible are held accountable for their actions.
The upcoming release of body camera footage answers the call for transparency, reminding us that we must build on this momentum by honoring Tyre – while still demanding actions that support police reform and improvements in the overall systems that should be supporting residents holistically. On an even larger scale, we must support each other, recognizing that not everyone will heal from this similarly. We hear and empathize with the frustration and anger surrounding Tyre's death. We encourage everyone to channel those emotions into passionate efforts for policy reform, not just in the justice system but also in education, health, housing, employment, and all other systems that should be better connected to provide equitable resources to all families. That’s the “why” behind the More For Memphis effort and the reason hundreds of community partners are working together to identify sustainable solutions that could improve our overall quality of life. We know our systems need to be improved, and together we can find the solutions.
If you feel called to attend one of the numerous vigils around the city, the More For Memphis Justice & Safety Collaborative will be hosting a Day of Healing next week. We will share the details once confirmed and encourage you to follow their social media channels. In addition, we have included some resources below to help families, community members, and educators.
We pray for the Nichols family to find peace during this challenging time and encourage everyone to remember Tyre as the kind and loving person he was. We love our community and know we will get through this together.
Resources:
National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers
Children Development Institute: How to Talk to Kids about Tragedies in the Media
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Coping with Grief After Community Violence
