Tampa, FL – On Saturday, February 4, protesters gathered in downtown Tampa demanding justice for Tyre Nichols and others who were murdered by the hands of police nationally and locally. The protesters held banners that called for community control of the police and “convict killer cops.”

Police across the country began the year with the murder of Keenan Anderson on January 3, at  the hands of LAPD. Anderson was a father, teacher, and cousin to a founder of Black Lives Matter. January 7 was the brutal assault on Tyre Nichols by Memphis PD, which resulted in his death only three days later. Nichol’s was a father, photographer and FedEx worker. Manuel “Tortuguita” Terán was shot dead by Georgia State Patrol during a protest against the controversial “Cop City.”

“The fight doesn’t end until the community’s needs are met. The demand is an end to police terror and community control of the police is how we get there, and we’re dedicated to keep fighting until we get what we deserve,” stated David Jones from the National Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression – Tampa.

The behavior of the police in the murder of Tyre Nichols can only be described as barbaric. After having already pepper sprayed and tased him, the police proceeded to beat him for another three minutes. The initial claim which the police officers made for stopping Tyre Nichols was reckless driving. In the state of Tennessee reckless driving is a misdemeanor and a fine of upwards of $500, not a death sentence. No one should have to fear for their life at a traffic stop, and police must be held accountable for their actions.

Tampa, like the rest of the country, is no stranger to police sanctioned violence within its city limits. In 2014, the 14-year-old Andrew Joseph III was killed due to police negligence. Only just last year was some justice delivered for the death of Andrew Joseph III and not without struggle from his family and the community. Others who were murdered by the police within Tampa include Josiah Pinner, Jonas Joseph and Dominique Mulkey.

“We want the Tampa communities to have the power to fire and jail killer cops! To defund the police! To end racist programs like biking and renting while black! Oppressed nationalities including African Americans have a right to self-determination,” said Simon Rowe, a member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

It has been nearly three years since the George Floyd uprising, yet the police are setting records as 2022 had the highest rate of police killings in the past decade.

As long as people are willing to fight and stand against police crimes and fight for community control of the police, justice will eventually be served.

#TampaFL #PoliceBrutality #StopPoliceCrimes #TyreNichols

New Orleans, LA – On Monday, January 30, 100 demonstrators rallied at city hall to call for justice for Tyre Nichols and all victims of police crimes. They then marched to Jackson Square, a tourist hub in the French Quarter. Malikah Asante-Chioke spoke about her father who was killed by Louisiana state police.

Toni Mar, representing New Orleans for Community Oversight of Police (NOCOP), denounced the killings.

As the demonstrators marched through the French Quarter they chanted slogans such as “When killer cops are on patrol, what do you demand? Community control!”

NOCOP members passed out literature calling for the New Orleans city council to adopt a measure for Citizen Police Accountability Council. They announced a follow-up demonstration for the next day. The next protest called for the firing and conviction of NOPD officer Gerry Paul, who has been charged with rape.

#NewOrleansLA #PoliceBrutality #BlackLivesMatter #NewOrleansForCommunityOversightOfThePoliceNOCOP #TyreNichols

Jacksonville FL- On January 29, the Jacksonville Community Action Committee alongside 80 energized community members rallied to demand accountability and justice. Cities around the nation are organizing in response to not only the release of horrific bodycam footage capturing the slaying of Tyre Nichols, but local struggles as well.

Across the country police brutality persists, but the masses continue to hit the streets to stand up against the violence. The bodycam footage depicting the brutal killing of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop raises important concerns regarding police accountability and institutional racism. Officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith were all fired and later arrested on murder and other charges.

However, police violence continues to escalate the further militarization of police departments as a pushback to demands of accountability. In Atlanta “Cop City,” a nickname given to a proposed law enforcement training center, will become a national hub for police to continue to learn repressive tactics.

Jacksonville has already endured two deaths this year related to officer-involved shootings. The Jacksonville Community Action Committee and other community organizations such as the UNF Students for a Democratic Society, Northside Coalition, and Black Power Rising, spoke out on Sunday, calling for accountability, justice and public safety.

“We should be able to investigate when one of our community members is killed,” Michael Sampson explains the Public Safety Oversight Committee, a planned ballot initiative to put power back in the peoples’ hands and serve as a launch point towards community control. There are already 18 cities in Florida with some form of civilian review.

Shirley McDaniels, mother of Vernell “Lil Red” Bing Jr. who was killed by a JSO officer, said “We need this in our community. At some point in time we gotta gain justice,” in regards to forming the committee.

Chants of “Enough is enough” echoed through the crowd.

“We have to demand better from our city. We should not have to fear the people who protect and serve us,” said Brian Jefferson II, member of the Jacksonville Community Action Committee.

Christina Kittle stated, “This is just the first step.” The Public Safety Oversight Committee is not the complete solution, but it is the first step to putting power back in the hands of the people.

You can stay up-to-date on local actions in Jacksonville by following @Jaxtakesaction on social media or visiting jaxtakesaction.org.

#JacksonvilleFL #PoliceBrutality #StopPoliceCrimes #jailKillerCops #TyreNichols

Colorado Springs, CO – On February 4, a crowd of protesters gathered at the Colorado Springs City Hall to demand justice for Tyre Nichols. The action was called by the Colorado Springs People’s Coalition (CSPC), an affiliate of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. The event was also attended by members of Students for a Democratic Society, along with local community members and their children.

The protest started with a speech from Brandon Rincon, founder of CSPC. “We’re here to stand in solidarity with Memphis protesters and to bring more awareness to police crimes in Colorado Springs.”

Rincon then read a prepared statement of solidarity from Dalvin Gadson, a homeless veteran who was beaten by the Colorado Springs Police Department in October of 2022. A call to action was made for those present to join organizations fighting against police crimes. After the speeches, the protesters marched to CSPD headquarters, chanting “Cops kill while on patrol, what do we need? Community Control!” and “Black lives matter!”

After arriving at CSPD headquarters, the protesters held a moment of silence before marching back to City Hall. The calls for community control of the police echoed through the city.

#ColoradoSpringsCO #PoliceBrutality #BlackLivesMatter #StopPoliceCrimes #TyreNichols

Milwaukee, WI – After a successful march and rally over the weekend, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and the Justice for Brieon Green Coalition organized a candlelight vigil on Tuesday, January 31 for Tyre Nichols and all victims of police violence.

Vigils help us remember victims of police crimes as humans who were loved and cherished. It is important to hold space to grieve for our loved ones. This is so that we can build the strength it takes to struggle for their justice. In Milwaukee, this strength has been built through the fighting families who have lost loved ones to police violence.

JoAnn Brewer, grandmother of Brieon Green, said, “This is how it should be. We should get together. If you decide to stay home and we don’t stand together, we can’t get anything done. We need to get up and fight for justice, transparency, and what we need.”

In Milwaukee, that fighting spirit has been exemplified by Maria Hamilton, mother of Dontre Hamilton (2014) and member of Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (MAARPR). Speaking at the vigil, Maria explained the need for transparency. It has been almost nine years since Dontre was murdered by Milwaukee police, and the footage around the case is yet to be released. Footage in these cases is crucial for transparency, but it also helps with, as Hamilton said, “keeping the names of our loved ones not only alive but relevant. The way they were killed. The people who hired [the officers]. The people who made the choice to work these jobs and weren’t qualified for a badge. We have to remain vigilant.”

This is why the need for community control over the police is imperative. Lauryn Cross, co-chair of the MAARPR, said, “eventually through police reform, we will realize as a community we need direct control over how we are policed and who polices us. Even in states with progressive policies around the release of body cam footage, we are still losing loved ones to police crimes. As long as the police oversee themselves they are not being held accountable. We need power over where the money from their budget goes, we need power over how fast these killer cops get to jail, we need to take our power back!”

The vigil ended with chants for victims of police violence in Milwaukee, going as far back as Daniel Bell, who was murdered by Milwaukee police on February 2, 1958. The history of police violence is a long one in Milwaukee, but so is the history of the struggle against it. That struggle is carried forward today by the MAARPR, the Justice for Brieon Green Coalition, and the families.

#MilwaukeeWI #PoliceBrutality #BlackLivesMatter #StopPoliceCrimes #TyreNichols

Chicago, IL – 300 Chicagoans braced against the cold night, January 30, to protest the brutal police slayings of Tyre Nichols, Keenan Anderson and Manuel “Tortuguita” Teron. The eight-degree weather did not deter the crowd as they clustered together to stand in solidarity with protests that have broken out across the country in the wake of the release of the video footage that depicted multiple officers beating Nichols to death.

Frank Chapman, field organizer of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR), made it clear that there is an answer to the people’s cries for justice. “We’ve got a solution in Chicago; February 28 is the solution.” On February 28, Chicagoans will be voting for the first time ever to elect civilians to District Councilor positions, which is seen by many as a step in the fight towards gaining community control over the police.

The rally was called by CAARPR with support from organizations such as Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation (SOUL), Rainbow PUSH, Good Kids/Mad City, and United States Palestinian Community Network (USPCN). Referring to the district council elections, Nick Seuss from USPCN, told the crowd that, “The first step is to take power from the police and give it to the people.”

Bishop Tavis Grant from the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition reminded the crowd, “We’ve got a democratic option: vote.” This point could not be more true with the February 28 elections for District Councilors quickly approaching for Chicagoans.

12th Police District Council candidate, William “The Kid” Guerrero, drew parallels to what happened in Memphis to what goes on in Chicago: “This is for Adam Toledo, Tortuguita, and Tyre Nichols.”

After a brief march and chanting, “I believe that we will win!” and “Who keeps us safe? We keep us safe!” the group disbanded. Overall, one of the messages that rang loudest Monday night was first said by 15th District Council candidate Arewa Karen Winters, who quoted Assata Shakur: “We have nothing to lose but our chains!”

#ChicagoIL #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #Antiracism #PoliticalRepression #ChicagoAllianceAgainstRacistAndPoliticalRepression #CommunityControlOfThePolice #TyreNichols

The National Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression condemns the police killing of Tyre Nichols and stands with all victims of police terror

On January 7th, 2023, Memphis Police brutally assaulted Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old black man. This resulted in “his bones coming out of his skin” and difficulty breathing. Tyre Nichols died in the hospital three days later, on January 10th, after kidney failure and cardiac arrest because of the beating. The body cam footage is horrific and unwatchable. The 5 officers responsible for the death of Tyre Nichols have been fired by the Memphis Police Department and have rightfully been charged and indicted for the murder of Tyre Nichols. They now must be convicted.

The demands for accountability and transparency from police are evergreen, as this January has shown that cops continue to live up to their legacy of racial terror. With the recent murders of Keenan Anderson, in Los Angeles, CA, Manuel “Tortuguita” Terán, in Atlanta, GA and Tyre Nichols in Memphis, TN at the hands of police, the movements to fight back and demand real justice for Black people and all victims of police crimes must continue to struggle until we secure a future where the police answer to the people. A world where the community gets the first and last say on how they are policed and where real accountability is won. That is a future where our people have community control of the police, a future that will be reached only if we fight for it!

Only through the demand of community control of the police can we see killer cops held accountable and their boots taken off our necks. The National Alliance stands in full solidarity with the family and friends of Tyre Nichols as they fight for accountability and justice. We stand in solidarity with all strains of the movement and call for all our branches, affiliate organizations and allies in the movement to demand justice in their own cities.

Justice for Tyre Nichols and all victims of police terror!

Community Control of the Police Now!

Black Lives Matter!

#UnitedStates #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #NationalAllianceAgainstRacistAndPoliticalRepressionNAARPR #TyreNichols