By John Bacon, Jorge L. Ortiz, Lucas Finton, Omer Yusuf | January 29, 2023 | USA Today
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Demonstrators outside a Memphis Police Department precinct demanded charges against an officer who’s seen firing what appears to be a Taser in the video that shows five other officers fatally beating a Black man.
Protests and vigils were scheduled across the nation Sunday, two days after the release of footage showing members of the Memphis police mercilessly kicking and punching Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old father, skateboarder and FedEx worker.
The officer with the Taser appears to be white — the five charged with murder in Nichols’ death are Black — and is heard saying, “I hope they stomp his ass.” The small group protesting outside the police precinct called for his identity to be revealed.
“They are charging the black officers” activist Casio Montez said. “We want that white officer’s name. We want him charged.”
The Memphis protesters held moments of silence lasting three minutes, the amount of time Nichols was beaten during a Jan. 7 traffic stop. He died three days later.
“That was the longest three minutes of silence in my life” said activist Jennifer Cain, whose group organized the protest attended by about 30 demonstrators. “That’s three minutes of beating. Three minutes of screaming and yelling for his mom.”