Protesters are demanding justice more than 24 hours after Memphis police released graphic body camera video of officers beating Tire Nichols. He died three days after Memphis officers arrested him on January 7.
These five officers were all fired and charged with second degree murder and other crimes related to Nichols’ death.
>>PHOTOS: Tire Nichols: People gather in Dayton
Black Lives Matter Dayton held a protest at the Dayton Federal Building in downtown Dayton on Saturday afternoon.
Kayla McDermott of News Center 7 said more than a dozen protesters chanted with signs and several speakers called for change.
All were outraged by body camera video released by the Memphis Police Department that shows five officers beating Tire Nichols during a traffic stop.
“We have the right to fight not just for civil rights, but for human rights,” said one speaker.
>>Tire Nichols Death: Memphis SCORPION Police Unit Permanently Disabled
Tania Hudson was also protesting and told News Center 7 that she knew what it was like to lose a son at the hands of a police officer.
“My son Deonte Bell was shot and killed by Columbus police seven years ago,” Hudson said.
She said she knew how much pain Nichols’ mother must be in.
“I was devastated by the pain the mother is going to feel for the rest of her life,” Hudson told News Center 7.
Especially with people all over the country watching the body cam video.
“Watching and seeing what they did to his son is unbearable,” Hudson said. “It brought me to ground zero. It made me even angrier that our own color raped another brother.
>>Tire Nichols: “Inhuman act of violence; Dayton NAACP president speaks on Memphis police video
McDermott says the officers who killed Nichols were fired from the Memphis Police Department and face second-degree murder charges. But Hudson believes there needs to be more accountability across the country.
“Holding everyone accountable for our actions is what we all need to do,” she told News Center 7.
Hudson does not call Saturday’s rally a protest but rather a movement.
“Our lives matter, yours, mine,” she said. “Our lives matter. I pray throughout my life for the opportunity to see change for my grandchildren.
Hudson said she felt honored that people came together for the movement on Saturday, but felt more people should have been there, standing together.
