Biden Urges Against Violence as US Prepares for Tire Nichols Video Release

President Joe Biden called for the protests to remain peaceful as the country prepares for the release of video showing Memphis police brutalizing 29-year-old Tire Nichols, who died three days later.

“What’s at stake is, first of all, the lives of innocent people, number 1. Number 2, you have a lot to say and do with the image of America,” Biden told reporters on the South Lawn on Friday night. night when I was leaving. at Marine One for Camp David. ‘It has a lot to do with whether or not we are the country we say we are. That we are a country of law and order… that we can protest peacefully and let the courts pass sentence.’

Biden also recounted his phone conversation Friday with Nichols’ family: RowVaughn Wells and Rodney Wells, his mother and stepfather.

“I spoke to Tire’s mother and expressed my condolences and told her that I was going to make the case for Congress to pass the George Floyd Act and control this,” the president said. “I can only do so much with an executive order at the federal level.”

“I was very pleased that she called for peaceful protests, no violence, no movement at all,” he added.

When asked if he was concerned that the demonstrations would turn violent and destructive, the president responded in the affirmative.

“Well I am, I’m obviously very worried about it,” he replied.

He added that RowVaughn Wells made a “very strong request” for calm. “Obviously he’s in enormous pain,” Biden said, but added: “He says he’s already thinking about what he would want him to do.” Which is very positive.

On captured video of the call and shared by The Washington Post, Biden can be heard sympathizing with RowVaughn Wells and Rodney Wells. They are sitting next to prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump.

“I know it’s devastating,” the president said. I know people tell you that. But I know: I lost my son in a war, as a result of a war in Iraq, I was there for a year. I lost my daughter when a tractor-trailer overturned, killing my wife and daughter.’

“I don’t know how you got up there, I didn’t have the courage to do what you did,” the president added, referring to a press conference the couple held on Friday.

Biden called Nichols “an amazing kid, a handsome boy,” as his mother told the president: “You know, Mr. President, he actually got my name tattooed on his arm.”

“I know,” replied the president. That’s what you call something special.

During Friday’s briefing, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden had not yet seen the video, even though FBI Director Christopher Wray said he had seen the brutal footage.

In a statement Thursday night, Biden called for calm ahead of the video’s expected release on Friday, scheduled for after 6 p.m. CST.

“As Americans grieve, the Justice Department conducts its investigation, and state authorities continue their work, I join the Tire family in calling for peaceful protests,” the president said. Outrage is understandable, but violence is never acceptable. Violence is destructive and against the law. It has no place in peaceful protests seeking justice.’

Nichols, 29, died on January 10, after five Memphis police officers took him into hospital after a severe beating, just steps from his home. Nichols and the five officers are black.

Biden said Nichols’ family “deserve a prompt, full and transparent investigation into his death.”

The president added that “public trust is the foundation of public safety and there are still too many places in the United States today where the bonds of trust are frayed or broken.”

“Tyre’s death is a painful reminder that we must do more to ensure our criminal justice system delivers on the promise of fair and impartial justice, equal treatment, and dignity for all,” Biden said. “We also cannot ignore the fact that fatal encounters with law enforcement have disparately impacted Black and Latino people.”

‘To achieve real change, we must be held accountable when law enforcement officers violate their oaths, and we must build lasting trust between law enforcement officers, the vast majority of whom wear the badge with honor, and the communities they have served. sworn to serve and protect. ‘ continued the president.

Biden pointed out how the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act failed to pass Congress.

It passed the Democratic-led House of Representatives in March 2021, but failed in the Senate because Democrats did not have enough votes to overturn a GOP-led filibuster.

The president later signed an executive order that included stricter provisions on the use of force for federal law enforcement.

“Today, we must all recommit ourselves to the critical work that needs to be done to advance meaningful reform,” Biden said.

On Friday morning, Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis described Nichols’ video as worse than what happened to Rodney King, which sparked the Los Angeles riots in the 1990s.

“I don’t think I’ve witnessed anything of that nature in my entire career. He was outraged. It was incomprehensible to me. It was that bad,” he told CNN’s Don Lemon.

All five officers involved in the incident have been fired and charged with second degree murder, aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of official misconduct and official oppression.

Four of the five have been released from jail on bail.

“We are going to see acts that defy humanity, a disregard for life, a duty of care, and a level of physical interaction that is above and beyond what is required in law enforcement,” Davis said. ‘I’m sure the people who see it will feel what the family felt. And if you don’t, then you’re not a human being.

“I would say it’s about the same, if not worse, than the 1991 Rodney King beating. A groupthink mentality,” she added.

The police chief added that there is “no evidence” that Nichols was driving recklessly when he was pulled over, and officers were unable to substantiate claims that he was.