MILWAUKEE — Dozens of Wisconsin residents made their way to Red Arrow Memorial Park on Sunday to show their support for the family of Tyre Nichols and protest his treatment in police custody.
“We are out here to stand with the family, stand with Memphis, stand with the nation because the issue again, it is going on and on,” said Femi Akinmoladun.
Akinmoladun has been attending protests since George Flyod was killed. He said he believes systemic racism is backed into the country’s culture.
He said it’s time to say goodbye to the police altogether.
“There are also people who would say that freedom looks like police no longer in our communities. Is that an accurate statement for us? I think it is,” said Akinmoladun.
Tyre Nichols was fatally beaten by Memphis police officers and ended up passing away three days later in a Memphis hospital.
Akinmoladun said in order for actual change to occur, the whole country needs to start taking baby steps.
He said passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act was one step in the right direction for police reform, and the next step will be passing police reform legislation in the name of Tyre Nichols.
“America should be paying attention to this issue because it is happening to all of us,” said Akinmoladun. “The nation saw that even though one desires to go home to be with his mother, to be with his family at dinner, he could not get the chance to do that.”
Avis Weber is a mother. This was the first time she has ever come out to protest.
“It is just heartbreaking, it is heartbreaking and I can not believe that it is continuing to get worse,” said Weber.
Weber agrees that something needs to change, and she said that needs to start at the political level.
“Do more when it comes to policing and in particular policing that protects the public,” said Weber.
Weber was inspired to hit the streets after hearing Nichols’ mother speak on TV and she said no parent should have to feel the pain she is feeling.
“I can’t even imagine what it would feel like to lose a child under any circumstances, but what we just saw televised on TV and then allowing our children to see that as well, I mean, the time is now.”