Tonight’s news dump is horrific: video footage of five Memphis, Tennessee, police officers kicking and beating 29-year-old FedEx worker and photographer Tyre Nichols, a Black man, after what appears to have been a routine traffic stop on the night of January 7. He died in the hospital three days later.
I never want to read these words again: after a routine traffic stop. They’re always preceded by the same multiple choice madness again and again and again.
But humanity reveals itself too, which in this case are Tyre Nichols’s photos that HCR so wisely links to so we grasp the life stolen.
For Heather to set aside her deep desire to share her words about the things that matter and allow Tyre to speak through his art is yet another demonstration of her humility, respect, and grace. Thank you, Heather, for letting Tyre speak for himself. Jim
The police unit SCORPION is an acronym for Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods. How can anything named after a scorpion mean Restore Peace?!! Do you know how to disarm a scorpion? My little Papillon dogs (all of six pounds) instinctively disarm scorpions by biting the scorpion at the base of the tail breaking it at that point making the tail limp and useless. So I never have to worry about my little dogs encountering scorpions. Why were five cops addressing a mere traffic violation!!!? I'm thinking it might work to have each beat cop be paired with a psychologist trained in deescalation and non-violent techniques. Thank you, Heather and Joyce Vance for providing a link to Mr. Nichols photography in your newsletter this evening! What a loss of a beautiful human being!
It's 9:10pm I cannot watch any video. Simply disgusted by the stupidity being exhibited in our country. This is not rocket science. Simply act like human beings. It's time for our country to start thinking and not give license to those elements to act outside the limits of the law. We have an opportunity to save not only our country but the world. Just do it. 🙏
Our society is sick and the healing is going to be long and hard. When a young, vibrant life is snuffed out by cops in a rage like this for no reason (and it happens again and again); when two of the leading causes of death for children and teens in the US are shootings and suicides; and when one political party has taken such a dive off the deep end that they seem hopelessly lost and extremely dangerous, it is impossible to not feel overwhelmed. The only way out of this is through: "When you are going through hell, keep going." The forces working against us want us to get exhausted and give up. So we can't give them what they want.
I'm a photographer, and I get paid to do it. Tyre D. Nichols calls himself an "aspiring photographer." There's nothing "aspiring" there - he IS a photographer. And a very good one. And all that will never be, because five oxygen thieves, who would have made the world a better place if they'd never been born, decided to act out their fucked up insanity.
God damn those five worthless pieces of shit. I don't believe in the death penalty, but if I was on that jury, I could be convinced.
Thank you Heather. Sending much love to his family and friends. Yet another heartbreaking moment in this sometimes painful journey we are on. Saying his name with all of you tonight, Tyre Nichols.
I looked at each of his photos. That was a brilliant way to honor him, Heather. If the NYT had done that instead of the video, it might have touched people deeper with what was lost rather than the horror. I'll continue to refuse to view the horror.
He signs, your friend. Our eyes now are his eyes and his eyes ours. The wonder of what his life could have been. A damn loss to his child, family, friends and humanity. Each soul lost through this violence is a loss to us all. 💔💔💔
Thank you for including his photographs. Just too sad for words...
I never want to read these words again: after a routine traffic stop. They’re always preceded by the same multiple choice madness again and again and again.
But humanity reveals itself too, which in this case are Tyre Nichols’s photos that HCR so wisely links to so we grasp the life stolen.
For Heather to set aside her deep desire to share her words about the things that matter and allow Tyre to speak through his art is yet another demonstration of her humility, respect, and grace. Thank you, Heather, for letting Tyre speak for himself. Jim
On this Holocaust Remembrance Day, I would like to offer something entirely different to remind us all that courage and bravery and love also exist in a world alongside unspeakable horrors: https://twitter.com/G_S_Bhogal/status/1618928782588669952?cxt=HBwWgMDTrc_Jy_csAAAA&cn=ZmxleGlibGVfcmVjcw%3D%3D&refsrc=email
The police unit SCORPION is an acronym for Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods. How can anything named after a scorpion mean Restore Peace?!! Do you know how to disarm a scorpion? My little Papillon dogs (all of six pounds) instinctively disarm scorpions by biting the scorpion at the base of the tail breaking it at that point making the tail limp and useless. So I never have to worry about my little dogs encountering scorpions. Why were five cops addressing a mere traffic violation!!!? I'm thinking it might work to have each beat cop be paired with a psychologist trained in deescalation and non-violent techniques. Thank you, Heather and Joyce Vance for providing a link to Mr. Nichols photography in your newsletter this evening! What a loss of a beautiful human being!
Sometimes there simply aren't words...
It's 9:10pm I cannot watch any video. Simply disgusted by the stupidity being exhibited in our country. This is not rocket science. Simply act like human beings. It's time for our country to start thinking and not give license to those elements to act outside the limits of the law. We have an opportunity to save not only our country but the world. Just do it. 🙏
Our society is sick and the healing is going to be long and hard. When a young, vibrant life is snuffed out by cops in a rage like this for no reason (and it happens again and again); when two of the leading causes of death for children and teens in the US are shootings and suicides; and when one political party has taken such a dive off the deep end that they seem hopelessly lost and extremely dangerous, it is impossible to not feel overwhelmed. The only way out of this is through: "When you are going through hell, keep going." The forces working against us want us to get exhausted and give up. So we can't give them what they want.
I'm a photographer, and I get paid to do it. Tyre D. Nichols calls himself an "aspiring photographer." There's nothing "aspiring" there - he IS a photographer. And a very good one. And all that will never be, because five oxygen thieves, who would have made the world a better place if they'd never been born, decided to act out their fucked up insanity.
God damn those five worthless pieces of shit. I don't believe in the death penalty, but if I was on that jury, I could be convinced.
Thank you Heather. Sending much love to his family and friends. Yet another heartbreaking moment in this sometimes painful journey we are on. Saying his name with all of you tonight, Tyre Nichols.
Yes. Powerful. His photography feels peaceful and lovely.
I looked at each of his photos. That was a brilliant way to honor him, Heather. If the NYT had done that instead of the video, it might have touched people deeper with what was lost rather than the horror. I'll continue to refuse to view the horror.
Thank you.
Thank you for sharing his art. He saw the beauty in the world.
He signs, your friend. Our eyes now are his eyes and his eyes ours. The wonder of what his life could have been. A damn loss to his child, family, friends and humanity. Each soul lost through this violence is a loss to us all. 💔💔💔
I'm glad you shared the link to Tyre's photographs, Heather. I tried staying off line once I logged off work today.
I can't watch another police snuff film.
Powerful. Thank you for the link.