Summary

People across the nation are struggling to come to grips with the shocking display of excessive force by Memphis police in the beating death of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols. Thaddeus Johnson, professor of criminal justice and criminology at Georgia State University, joins John Yang to discuss the use of force in policing. Note that this video contains sensitive material and can only be viewed on YouTube or directly on the NewsHour site . For a transcript of this story, click here . TEACHER'S GUIDE :

• This segment contains some footage of the video of police brutalizing Tyre Nichols. It does not contain the most violent parts, however, it is sensitive so preview as always.


• Time stamp : Consider starting the video at the 1m:41s mark (video footage of the attack is before this) when Tyre Nichols' mother starts to talk after providing some context and background.


• We know you know your students best , so take this as a supportive reminder: be sure to give your students space to talk about how they are feeling and what they would like to see happen in their own communities. It’s important for all voices in the conversation to be heard and respected and to maintain a calm, safe space while diving into this lesson.


• It might also help to review the "Head, Heart, Conscience" teaching strategy from Facing History & Ourselves

 

Rodney Wells, a stepfather, and RowVaughn Wells a mother of Tyre Nichols, a young Black man who was killed during a traffic stop by Memphis police officers, take the stage with their attorney Ben Crump, during a news conference at Mt. Olive Cathedral CME Church in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S., January 27, 2023. REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer

Five Facts

• Who are the individuals and groups discussed in this piece?


• What did Thaddeus Johnson say must happen in order to end police brutality, including the brutal killing of Tyre Nichols?


• Where was Johnson a former police officer who at one time taught the use of force?


• When were the five police officers charged with murder for Nichols' death? (see this story )


• How does Johnson describe the role leadership plays in training officers?


• Why does Johnson bring up "systemic inequities" in response to John Yang's question about why traffic stops often go so wrong?

Focus Questions

As you reflect on these very sad and serious events, what would you like to see happen in your community? What would you like the conversation to be about? Read this excerpt by Thaddeus Johnson:

...it's way outside of bounds of the law and any police training that I know of. I think what we witnessed was a deadly brew of incompetence, a deadly brew of aggression. Bravado, Machismo, one-upmanship of who can be the toughest person. We saw a subculture within a department, how it can impact within units, but not only within units. Also, the sheriff's department, also the EMT, and the Fire Department. And it shows how deeply subcultures can run. And so, they let down the city of Memphis. They let down their families, and they definitely let down Tyre and his family.

Answer this question in your notebooks or with another student or as a class (whichever setup is best for your class): Can you think of a time when you were let down by people who were supposed to protect you? How would you have wanted people to react at the time? What would you like your community to do right now to support young people and make sure they are kept safe? Media literacy: Why do you think the NewsHour chose to interview Thaddeus Johnson, professor of criminal justice and criminology at Georgia State University? What did Johnson bring to the interview that other criminal justice experts may not have been able to do in the same way?

For More

What students can do: It is important to understand the historical context behind events like the killing of Tyre Nichols — and how this knowledge helps you participate civically and have a voice in your community. You have the resources and skills to learn how this particular attack fits into a timeline of events. Considering starting with Rodney King and what took place in Ferguson, Missouri , when Michael Brown was killed. You may want to go back to Bull Connor and the origins of the Black Lives Matter movement. Use this BBC article George Floyd: Timeline of black deaths and protests to learn more about the history of these events in the United States and make a timeline with images of these men while they were alive and living their lives. Here are two images of Tyre Nichols you may consider using:

 

A security guard looks out of a window as protesters project an image of Tyre Nichols during rally against the fatal police assault of Tyre Nichols, in Washington, DC, on January 27, 2023. (Photo by Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

 

Tyre Nichols, who died in a hospital on Jan. 10, three days after sustaining injuries during his arrest by police officers, is seen in this undated picture obtained from social media. Facebook/Deandre Nichols/via REUTERS

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