SACRAMENTO, Calif — Family and friends of Tyre Nichols gathered to remember him one year after his death where he was beaten by police officers following a traffic stop in Memphis, Tennessee.
Many showed up to the Natomas Skate Park named in his honor, where Nichols spent countless hours. There he was remembered as a bright light taken away too soon.
“We can do better, we in the United States can do better. We in California, Sacramento can do better,” said Sacramento Council Member Lisa Kaplan, who represents District 1.
“It is on all of us tonight, and every day, to work hard,” said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg. “Work harder toward eliminating the injustices that still exist in our country and even in our own community.”
One year after the fatal traffic stop in Memphis, Tennessee, Nichols died after a violent confrontation with Memphis police officers. Five officers have been charged so far in connection with his death.
Organizers say the planned vigil is part of ongoing calls for accountability and justice in Nichols' death.
“We just really want to grow and have his impact shed light that we do want to protect people in our communities with law enforcement, but how can we make law enforcement better, so we feel protected in our, and within our, community,” said Khamari Ellis, Tyre Nichols’ nephew.
Family friend Angelina Paxton hopes people take this tragedy seriously and know that it can happen to anyone unless something changes. She is hoping a police reform law gets passed, where failure to intervene is a crime.
“This is a country-wide problem,” said Paxton. “I spend every day answering messages from others who have experienced what we have but have not received the justice that we have.”
Paxton says they hope this year, they can begin closing the gap. She adds further, they hope to get the trial over with, so they can make sure they can make headway to prevent this tragedy from happening again.
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