February 1, 2023

Tyre Nichols should be alive today. Instead, his family is laying him to rest. We are again reeling from the tragic aftermath of a police-involved death of a Black person. A traffic stop should not result in the loss of life. The released footage is horrific, deeply troubling, and reveals the egregious actions of the Memphis police. We grieve the loss of Mr. Nichols and extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and community.

The police officers involved in Mr. Nichols’ death may have been fired and charged, but this does not lessen the deep sense of loss and frustration. We are again exposed to trauma. The physical, mental, and emotional toll on communities of color, specifically the Black community, cannot continue.  We should not have to live in anticipation of the next incident of police brutality. We should not have to wonder which city, which neighborhood, or which family will be the next to experience a devastating loss. We must do more to ensure that the path to justice leads to opportunities to change systems of public safety.

Resources

To address the collective trauma many of us are experiencing, the Wanton Injustice Legal Details (WILD) and Twin Cities Diversity in Practice (TCDIP) will be hosting a listening session in partnership with the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) this Friday, February 3 from 12-1pm. This listening session is for legal professionals of color affected by the killing of Tyre Nichols. We also encourage legal professionals to contact Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers or a mental health professional for further support.

WILD’s Mission and Next Steps

In 2023, WILD will continue to focus on systemic change in public safety. WILD was formed in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd and our work must continue considering the continued loss of life caused by police interactions. WILD’s vision is to create Twin Cities communities free of anti-Black racism and all forms of racism. Our mission is to provide a platform through which the legal community and TCDIP Members can actively combat racism through direct support and partnerships with existing community organizations currently rooted in this work.

More information about WILD can be found here.