FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2023
On behalf of Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Inc., we are disturbed by the footage showing the heinous acts of officers that led to the death of 29 year old Tyre Nichols. We extend our sincerest condolences to Mr. Nichols’ parents, son and loved ones. As an organization of Black women, we agree that when Mr. Nichols cried out for his mother with his dying words, we were all personally summoned.
The despicable actions of these officers only further erode trust between police and the communities they’re called to protect and serve, not just in Memphis but nationwide. Year after year, case after case, we continue to see the utter disregard and devaluation of Black lives. There is a fundamental, institutional problem in the policing of Black and brown communities that needs to be addressed. While the swift action of the Memphis district attorney in bringing murder charges against the officers involved and the police chief’s disbandment of the Memphis SCORPION unit is a first step, we call upon government officials at every level to critically evaluate the current practice of law enforcement in America and take concrete measures to implement widespread systemic reforms to prevent the callous disregard of Black lives.
BWL, founded in 1975, is a non-profit corporation created to address the needs and concerns of African-American women in the legal profession and whose mission is dedicated to charitable, educational, and community-based services.
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