Photo: Courtesy of Tyre Nichols' family
Tyre Nichols, the 29-year-old Black man who was beaten to death by Memphis police officers, will be laid to rest in the city on Wednesday, February 1. Several high-profile figures and politicians are scheduled to attend his celebration of life, including Vice President Kamala Harris, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, Rev. Al Sharpton, George Floyd's family, and several White House officials.
Sharpton will deliver the eulogy during the service, which will be held at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, according to a program obtained by CBS News. A church spokesperson the service was delayed to 1 p.m. local time due to "inclement weather and travel delays," Bloomberg confirmed.
The service will focus on Nichols' vibrant life instead of the horrific beating and will be livestreamed on CBS News' YouTube.
"People from around the world watched the videotape of a man unarmed, unprovoked, being beat to death by officers of the law," Sharpton said during a Tuesday (January 31) news conference. “You thought that no one would respond. You thought no one would care. Well, tomorrow the Vice President of the United States is coming to his funeral."
Reporters said Crump will deliver the "call for justice" but his Tuesday flight was canceled due to inclement weather, as well. No word on if this will affect his attendance.
Nichols died on January 10 three days after his fatal traffic stop for alleged reckless driving, but Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis said there was no evidence supporting that. On Friday (January 27), the department released gruesome body camera footage of officers kicking, punching, and pepper-spraying the father.
Five officers were fired and are facing several charges, including second-degree murder, and two more were relieved of duty. Three Memphis EMTs were also fired for violating department policies and protocol during the incident.
Nichols moved from Sacramento, California to Memphis to be with his mother and stepfather during the pandemic, according to his family. RowVaughn Wells, his mother, told CBS News her son was an avid skateboarder who loved photographing sunsets and landscapes. Friends from his youth back in Sacramento described him as "well-loved" at the local skate park.
"He just touches anybody who gets around him," Austin Robert, one of Nichols' friends, said. "He's a fantastic person and that's how I really want everybody to remember him."
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