On Wednesday, defense lawyers, a jury and a police department sent a message to America that deadly police brutality against Black people is just fine as long as the suspect fled.
When news broke that Tyre Nichols died after being mercilessly beaten by five Memphis, Tennessee, police officers, and after the horrific video of the arrest was released, it seemed to be such a cut-and-dry case of vicious murder that even most right-wing media heads declined to bother trying to justify it. (They just emphasized that the cops are Black in an effort to extinguish all talk of “white supremacy.” Oh, and some of them took the opportunity to make crude and racist jokes about Nichols and George Floyd.) But three of the former officers, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith, were acquitted of all state charges related to the fatal beating, including second-degree murder, reminding Black America, once again, that finding justice in a “back the blue” nation is always an uphill battle.
So, now we’re left with one question: What’s next?
In October of last year, Bean, Haley, and Smith were convicted in a federal trial of witness tampering. Haley was also found guilty of violating Nichols’ civil rights by causing bodily injury. (They were all acquitted of the most serious charges, including violating Nichols’ civil rights. Yep, you read that correctly. Haley was found not guilty of violating Nichols’ civil rights, but he was convicted of violating Nichols’ civil rights, causing bodily injury. It’s almost as if the “justice” system is designed to give cops every legal out they can take advantage of.) Sentencing for the federal convictions of all five ex-cops is slated to begin later this year, according to the Independent, which noted that “Bean and Smith face up to 20 years in prison while Haley faces life behind bars.”
The other two ex-officers, Desmond Mills Jr. and Emmitt Martin, pleaded guilty to their federal and state charges, avoiding their state trial. They testified for the state against the other three, unfortunately, to no avail.
So, now we wait to see if Tyre Nichols and his family will receive any semblance of justice at all.
Many of us won’t be holding our breath.
SEE ALSO:
Tyre Nichols Trial: Ex-Cops Acquitted In Fatal Beating Of Black Man
‘Smear Campaign’: Memphis Kicks Dirt On Tyre Nichols’ Name In Latest Legal Filing
What’s Next For The Ex-Memphis Cops Who Fatally Beat Tyre Nichols After State Acquittal?
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