1,192 DePaulia
The
Volume #107 | Issue #14 | Feb. 6, 2023 | depauliaonline.com
Police killed at least 1,192 people last year in the United States — the most in a decade
‘We are not afraid’ Chicagoans protest killing of Tyre Nichols By Una Cleary and Samantha Moilanen Focus Editor and Asst. News Editor
Close to 100 protestors crowded the streets of Chicago’s downtown Federal Plaza, Monday, Jan. 30, in light of the recent death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Memphis police officers. Memphis police pulled over Nichols, a 29-year-old Black motorist, on Jan. 7, according to NPR. Police body-cam footage released on Jan. 27 shows officers beating Nichols to death after he attempted to flee on foot that evening. The protest was held to demand justice for Nichols, along with Manuel “Tortuguita” Teron, Keenan Anderson and all victims of police brutality. “We’ve seen time and time again that the system is not meant for us, and the police do not protect us at all,” said William Guerrero, a youth organizer who was at the protest. “Even though it did not happen here in the city of Chicago, It doesn’t mean that things like this… [don’t] happen in Chicago. It happens in Chicago, and we’re here to hold the police accountable.” Bishop Tavis Grant, acting national executive director for the Rainbow PUSH
Coalition, spoke at the protest and began his statement by urging the crowd to “say his name.” The protestors shouted in response, “Tyre Nichols, Tyre Nichols, Tyre Nichols…” Grant went on to speak about institutionalized racism within the Memphis police force and across the U.S. “One of America’s most brutal acts of institutionalized racism on a 140-pound body, bears the spirit of Tyre Nichols,” Grant said. “As a native of Memphis, I know what it’s like to confront racism in the Memphis Police Department. We were raised and taught to be afraid of them. But the night [has] stopped. We are not afraid.” CBS News reports five former Memphis police officers were fired and charged with the murder of Nichols, two other officers have been relieved of duty and three fire department personnel have also been fired. However, Grant claims nearly 25 people were reported at the scene of Nichols death, including deputies in the Sheriff ’s Department.
Grant calls for the termination and indictment of all officers and first responders who were at the scene of Nichols killing. “These groups of organized criminals…are able to detain without probable cause, profile without probable cause, arrest without probable cause and cure without probable cause,” Grant said. “But the life of Tyre Nichols will not go in vain.” With the sound of police sirens and ambulances honking their horns behind him, Guerrero stepped up to speak. In his opening statement, he said, “All those people that are dying by the police [who] were supposed to protect and serve us, they’re not doing their job.” Guerrero went on to urge protestors to continue to organize, gather and speak out against cases of institutionalized racism within the criminal justice system. Soon after, Arewa Williams, a candidate for the 15th police district council stepped up to speak.
See PROTEST, page 9
PHOTOS BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER | THE DEPAULIA
(From left) Arewa Karen Winters, LaToya Howell and Flora Suttle all had loved ones killed by police. In the wake of Tyre Nichols’ killing in Memphis, the three spoke Wednesday outside of the Chicago Police Department Headquarters on S Michigan Avenue at an event hosted by the Chicago Activist Coalition For Justice. See Focus story on Page 14.