Enlarge image
US Vice President Kamala Harris (left) next to Tire Nichols' mother RowVaughn Wells and her husband Rodney Wells
Photo: IMAGO/Andrew Nelles/IMAGO/USA TODAY Network
Kamala Harris attended Tire Nichols' memorial service in Memphis.
The US Vice President spoke of an "act of violence" by those who should actually ensure security.
»We mourn with you and the people of our country mourn with you.«
Police officers brutally beat Nichols at a traffic stop in Memphis on January 7th.
The 29-year-old died three days later in a hospital.
Like the victim, the five men, who belonged to a now-defunct special unit of the Memphis Police Department, are African American.
Hundreds of people attended Nichols' funeral service at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on Wednesday (local time).
Kamala Harris called on Congress to pass a reform law against police violence, initiated by her Democratic Party, named after George Floyd.
Floyd died in 2020 after a brutal police operation in Minneapolis.
The bill has long failed in Congress due to opposition from conservative Republicans.
Nichols' mother also tearfully appealed to Congress to finally act.
Otherwise, MPs would be responsible for the next such death, RowVaughn Wells said.
"Then the blood of the next child that dies will be on their hands." Nichol's older sister, Keyana Dixon, said, "All I want is to have my little brother back."
In his eulogy, well-known civil rights activist Al Sharpton also called for violent police officers to be held accountable.
Relatives of victims of police violence also attended the ceremony, which featured gospel singing and emotional speeches.
Among them was George Floyd's brother Philonise Floyd.
kha/AFP/AP