COLUMBUS, Ohio — People across the country voiced outrage Saturday following the Friday night release of videos of Tyre Nichols being beaten after a traffic stop.
What You Need To Know
- The Memphis police released video of Tyre Nichols being beaten after a traffic stop
- People demonstrated in Columbus on Saturday and called for justice for Nichols
- The Columbus Police Chief also released a statement
People gathered outside Ohio's Statehouse to call for justice for Nichols, with organizers demanding changes to a criminal justice system that allowed it to happen.
Holding protest signs and chanting calls for justice, a couple hundred people marched through the streets of downtown Columbus, demanding better policing.
"I was outraged by what I saw on the video,” said protester Zoe Benedict. “I mean, I'm outraged by policing in this country. It's completely out of control."
Demonstrators complained that Nichols' death was a casualty of a much larger systemic issue in America.
"The system... it's built on slavery, built on oppression, built on white supremacy," said Osazuwa Omoruyi. "The only way to completely deal with that is to turn it upside down."
"It's our duty as concerned citizens,” said Benedict. “(For) Anyone who wants to see any kind of change in this country to stand up and go against them.”
The demonstration at the Statehouse remained mostly peaceful and wrapped up after a couple hours.
Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant issued a statement Friday after the video was released, saying, “the actions of these former officers do not represent the standards we hold here,” and that the department will “continue to listen and build trust.”