Press and Media rush to judgment on Tyre Nichols death in Memphis. Due process is denied!
The role of videos in our modern society comes into question!
Blind Justice, by Popsync
Study.com "Blind justice?! Yeah, right!!
By Brian Patrick Moore, February 2, 2023
Updated February 8, 2023
The press and media coverage of the Tyre Nichols death at the hands of the Memphis Police so far has been a "rush to judgment" based on false assumptions and late videos recorded after Nichols' initial actions against the police. Plus, the emotional pandering by all newspaper reporters, and radio and television networks has led to a gross denial of due process and one-sided reporting.
Small references about Mr. Nichol’s wrong way driving, refusal to slow down, swerving his car at police or grabbing for a policeman's gun have been buried in long articles or not at all. Plus, where is the reporting on Nichol's verbal and physical fighting back, kicking the police, fleeing the scene and, according to a doctor who reviewed the videos, understood Nichols' one-word response of being on alcohol and not drugs.
The story has become a media frenzy, especially by the television networks, cable TV and National Public Radio. They all have denied fair, if not equal, coverage of the growing number of Memphis policemen and Firemen who have either been fired, suspended or charged with an array of criminal violations, including some with second-degree murder.
The Fourth Estate has "become judge, jury and executioner." They are responding only to the public relations campaign of the Nichols family's lawyers, who have put out endearing family photos of Mr. Nichols and already conducted their own independent autopsy that concluded Mr. Nichol's was "beaten to death." They have stated with emotional appeals that he "cried out for his mother three times" while only 200 yards from her home, which the media has repeatedly reported.
There was no mention in the Nichols family autopsy of drugs or alcohol in their son's blood stream. In fact, the family autopsy, as reported in the press, did not address that area at all; which raises questions in itself.
The official autopsy by the medical examiner has not been released yet. The official police report has not been released either despite the press's report that it was distorted or changed. Plus, the City of Memphis has not shared any of the videos and reports to the accused officers police union. Nor have the defense lawyers addressed the public or given the officers side of the story. And they may not until the time of trial.
Yet the press and media are using the Memphis Police Director/Chief CJ Davis's initial critical statements of the five policemen that their actions against Mr. Nichols were "egregious" and that she "saw no evidence" to support the reckless driving charge of Nichols." Plus, two of the accused officers said that Mr. Nichols had tried to grab an officer's gun, but they (the press) "saw no evidence." The press and media are saying if it is not in a video it is proof the actions did not occur. However the videos only show the later part of the two or three encounters.
What transpired before the released body cam videos, which created such aggressive responses from various police officers, including the use pepper spray and a taser, may turn the entire case on its head. Police do not react so strongly without justifiable reasons.
How could there be evidence if there were no police video cams on the road when Mr. Nichols' alleged multiple infractions occurred? Or even of his alleged wrong way car direction, refusal to stop and swerving his car at a pursuing police vehicle or an on-foot policeman? Aiming one's car at the police is equivalent of pointing a deadly weapon. If this occurred, can one blame the police's reaction?
Granted, the severe beating was difficult to watch, but it only covered a three-minute time period. It appeared that three or four officers administered either an unsightly kick, blows to the head and three baton hits to the back. It will have to be up to the defense team, at trial, to explain and justify such a strong police reaction.
Plus, Chief Davis may be covering herself, and the Memphis City Council, because they were responsible for forming this Scorpion squad to target high violence areas and offenders in the first place. It is reported that they were short 125 supervisors to oversee the undercover teams. The police chief and the Council set the policy and procedures of how the squad was to act, but failed to provide experienced police oversight.
In addition, the state legislature's funding cuts and law and order requirements to combat the increasing violence in Memphis also set the stage for such aggressive action in the more crime-ridden areas of Memphis.
The ultimate responsibility for wrongdoing in the Nichols case may lie with Chief Davis, the City Council, the Tennessee law enforcement agency and the state legislature itself. In events of wrongdoing, it is usually the underlings who take the fall for those in higher positions who are really responsible.
The fourth estate is already taking Nichols' death further by comparing the fatal encounters with law enforcement in the nation as this being another example "despite calls for change."
Where has fair reporting on both sides of the issue occurred? And where is due process being protected in this matter? Nowhere.
This is a travesty of justice just as much as it is a tragedy for Mr. Nichol's death.
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