The former police officers, who were previously fired in connection with excessive violence, are now being charged with second-degree murder, comparable to manslaughter, and aggravated assault, among other things. All five are trapped.
Mutilated
Nichols was arrested for reckless driving after a chase. According to his lawyer, he was beaten “like a piñata” when he was arrested. After this he was mutilated beyond recognition.
The images of the officers’ bodycams will be published on Friday. Nichols’ family has already seen the footage and called it “disgusting”
Black Lives Matter
Since the black man George Floyd was killed by police brutality in 2020, there have been frequent protests against racial inequality in the United States.
In this case, the officers who acted violently are also black, but some American media point to Nichols’ death as evidence that the police are tougher on arrests of black people.
‘Violence is never acceptable’
Nichols’ family has called for peaceful protest. President Joe Biden agrees and hopes it will not get out of hand. “Anger is understandable, but violence is never acceptable.”
The president also says he cannot deny that “black and brown people disproportionately often come into fatal contact with the police.” Biden believes that agents should be held accountable for their actions in order to bring about structural change.
