Our Stories

A Message About Tyre Nichols

The death of Tyre Nichols, and the video revealing the police brutality that led to his death, truly do “defy humanity.” Another young Black man whose life was violently cut short by the actions of law enforcement officials is yet another break in the heart and spirit of Black communities everywhere, and of our entire society. Our staff in Memphis and all across the country mourn with Nichols’s loved ones and join his mother in calling for non-violent protest, in spite of our collective outrage and pain.

We hope that in charging the five officers with murder, the City of Memphis will be able to advance justice for Tyre Nichols, and at the same time work to undo a system of law enforcement that endangers rather than safeguards communities, particularly Black communities. We at LISC are working on these kinds of changes, too: why should a young Black man, or anyone, be killed through the actions of the people who are meant to protect us? We stand together in our commitment to change the systems that failed Tyre Nichols and to make our society more just.