Vice President Kamala Harris, Reverend Al Sharpton and family honor Tyree Nichols at his funeral – FOX13 News Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Tear Nichols, who died Jan. 10, 2023, three days after five former Memphis police officers were caught on camera beating the 29-year-old man at the intersection of Ross Road and Raines Road, was honored by family and dignitaries at his funeral on February 1.

Nichols’ funeral was held at Mississippi Avenue Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee.

Thadarius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith, the five former Memphis police officers who MPD said were seen beating Nichols in the video, were all charged with two counts of official misconduct conduct, one count of official oppression, one count of second-degree murder, one count of aggravated assault and two counts of aggravated kidnapping.

TYR NICHOLS’ MOTHER, FAMILY AND BROTHERS SAY GOODBYE

“For this to happen to him is just unimaginable,” said RowVaughn Wells, Nichols’ mother.

Nichols was laid to rest Wednesday at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis.

“I promise you the only thing that keeps me going is that I believe my son was sent here on a mission by God,” Wells said.

Nichols’ mother, brother and siblings spoke at the funeral.

“We look forward to getting justice for all the families out there, not just ours,” said Rodney Wells, Nichols’ father.

The Reverend Al Sharpton eulogized Nichols.

“Let’s get rid of qualified immunity and see if you learn the same manners you have on the white side of town,” Reverend Sharpton said. “”Well, reverends, you don’t understand. How are they going to reduce crime in the black community and not be tough and mean at the same time?” Reverend Sharpton continued. “Well, they do it the same way they do it on the white side of town, and they keep crime down without roughing it. How do you have the same department and keep crime down on one side of town without beating people to death, but you can’t do it on the other side of town? I can’t speak for everyone in the crowd, but I believe for myself that if that man had been white, you wouldn’t have beaten him like that that night… In the city where Dr. King lost his life, not far from this balcony he beat brother unto death. There is nothing more offensive and insulting to those of us who fought to open doors and you walk through those doors and act like the people we had to fight for to get you through those doors,” Reverend Sharpton said.

LIVE UPDATES FROM THE FUNERAL

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Check out the service below:

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The funeral for Tyree Nichols ended around 3:15pm on Wednesday.

After the service, Ben Crump and the Reverend Al Sharpton held a press conference to answer questions about the investigation into Nichols’ death.

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Tear Nichols’ stepfather said that when he and his wife found out about Nichols’ death, “it was surrounded by lies and deceit.” Check out what they had to say at their son’s funeral below:

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Tyr Nichols’ siblings share memories, stories and a poem in his honor:

Nichols’ brother shared the story of how Tire got its name. He said it came from the movie Silverado.

One of his brothers said that as a child Ty, as he was called, liked to watch cartoons with a bowl of cereal.

One of his sisters said Nichols was the little brother, with 11 years between him and her.

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Ben Crump, Tier Nichols’ family attorney, demands justice for Nichols’ death:

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The Reverend Al Sharpton announced that director Spike Lee was in attendance along with Vice President Kamala Harris before introducing the parents of Tear Nichols.

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Watch Reverend Al Sharpton’s full speech below:

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In a speech, Ben Crump, the Nichols family attorney, pointed out that Tamika Palmer, Breona Taylor’s mother, was also present and said that both Tear Nichols and Taylor shared the same birthday: June 5, 1993.

Taylor was killed by police in Louisville, Kentucky on March 13, 2020, during a botched search of her apartment.

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“This is a family that lost their son and their brother through an act of violence at the hands and feet of the people who were charged with keeping them safe,” Vice President Kamala Harris said in her speech.

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Vice President Kamala Harris was brought to the podium to speak at Tear Nichols’ funeral. In an apparently impromptu speech that lasted about 5 minutes, she said that if it weren’t for the “violent act” by Memphis police officers, “Tyre Nichols would be with us today.”

Watch Harris’ speech below:

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The Mississippi Blvd Celebration Choir continues to celebrate the life of Tyree Nichols:

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Dr. Reverend Keith Norman addressed the audience in a nearly three-minute speech.

“Behold, the house of God is now among his people. He will live with them and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and there will be no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, and no more pain. These things are gone forever, and he who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new, and then he said to me, ‘Write this down, for what I am telling you is reliable and true,'” Norman said as he read new testament during the service.

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“Our faith gives us the confidence that as we stand, if God is for us, who can be against us? So today, as we celebrate Tyre’s life and comfort this family, we send notice to this nation that the rerun of this black lives matter hashtag episode has been canceled and will not be renewed for another season. We have come and we will win the fight for justice for our brother, Tyree Nichols,” said Dr. J. Lawrence Turner, in part, during an introduction that lasted nearly five minutes.

UPDATE:

The Mississippi Avenue Christian Church Holiday Choir welcomed those who came to celebrate the life of Tear Nichols.

UPDATE:

The funeral is scheduled to begin with a procession by the Rev. Al Sharpton, clergy and the Nichols family. The Holiday Choir will then perform a musical selection followed by a reading from Old Testament scriptures. The Reverend Dr. Rosalyn Nichols of Freedom Chapel Christian Church will then lead a condolence prayer. The Holiday Choir will play another musical selection, followed by a reading of Nichols’ obituary and a photo montage. Then the Reverend Dr. J. Lawrence Turner will conduct the presentation of the eulogy, followed by another musical celebration from the Celebration Choir. Rev.

Al Sharpton will then deliver a eulogy for Nichols, and civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the Nichols family, will hold a Call for Justice. Afterward, the Nichols family will hold a reflection, and the Rev. Rodney Woodley, the Rev. Dr. Earl Fisher, Bishop Marvin Thomas and Bishop Brandon Porter will offer words of comfort. Special guests and elected officials in attendance, including Vice President Kamala Harris, will be greeted and followed by a benediction by Rev. Deves Tun, National Field Director of the National Action Network.

FIRST LOG IN

FOX13 cameras were rolling as Nichols’ casket was rolled into the church shortly after 10 a.m.

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