The death of Tyre Nichols, an unarmed Black man in Memphis, Tennessee, has sparked nationwide outrage and calls for police reform. On Monday, the Memphis Police Department announced that a sixth police officer had been “relieved of duty” in connection with the incident.
The incident occurred on December 23, when Nichols was arrested by five Memphis police officers. Video of the arrest, which has since gone viral, shows officers using excessive force and tasing Nichols multiple times.
The video has reignited calls for police reform, with protesters taking to the streets in cities across the nation. On Monday, the Memphis Grizzlies basketball team announced that they would be launching a campaign to help the city of Memphis heal in the wake of Nichols’ death.
Roy S. Johnson, a columnist for AL.com, wrote an opinion piece in which he called out the “skinfolk” who brutally killed Nichols, saying that the shame is all theirs.
The case is still under investigation and no further information has been released at this time.
This story was sourced from NBC News, CBS News, FOX 11 Los Angeles, Commercial Appeal, and AL.com.