1 Tyre Nichols Video Released And Scorpion Unit Involved Is Shut Down
Footage of Tyre Nichols being brutally beaten at a traffic stop on January 7th has been released by the city of Memphis. The footage comes from a SkyCop camera and officers' body cameras and is split into four separate videos. The release of the footage has not only led to the officers involved being chard with Nichols' death, but the entire SCORPION Unit has been disbanded. Here is an abbreviated timeline of the events: The footage begins with the officers yelling at Nichols to get out of his car and then pulling him out by force. Police said they stopped Nichols for reckless driving, but Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis says the department has found “no proof” of that. Officers then pin Nichols to the ground and give him contradictory orders, so he doesn’t know which to follow. He tries to run and is soon pepper sprayed and tased. From there, the video is filled with the officers punching, kicking, and beating Nichols with batons as he calls out for his mother, who reportedly lives within 80 yards of where the beating took place. Toward the end of the video, EMTs show up with a stretcher for Nichols, but don’t render aid as the officers are heard saying Nichols was swerving in and out of traffic before they pulled him over. Some of the officers even claimed that Nichols went for their guns. Nichols was hospitalized in critical condition and died three days after the incident. Politicians, members of law enforcement and several members of the entertainment industry have spoken out to condemn what happened, calling it "appalling," "alarming," and "unconscionable". Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said the video is "just beyond anything I've ever seen,” while Police Chief C.J. Davis said, "I'm sure as I said before that individuals watching will feel what the family felt. If you don't, then you're not a human being.” President Biden and former president Barack Obama shared messages on social media as well. Meanwhile, celebrities like Viola Davis, Tyler Perry, Mark Ruffalo and Justin Timberlake took to Twitter and Instagram to voice their anger and demand justice. Protests have broken out across the country as the news of Nichols’ death broke. Though they’ve been mostly peaceful, there have been reports of vandalized buildings in Los Angeles, California, along with one police car attacked and a protester throwing a smoke bomb inside. Protests in New York have been mostly peaceful as well, with one incident of a protestor stomping on a police car’s windshield before being arrested.
2 Damar Hamlin Speaks Publicly For The First Time Since His Cardiac Arrest
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is speaking on camera for the first time since he suffered cardiac arrest on the field earlier this month. Hamlin posted the video on Saturday and said he feels like the health scare ended up being a blessing to inspire others. Hamlin shared his thoughts from the Bill training facility saying how he was finally ready to share a few things that have been on his mind. "I think it was important for me to wait and speak publicly at the right time, as it was just a lot to process within my own self. Mentally, physically, even spiritually, it's just been a lot to process." Hamlin closed out his speech by expressing how much he appreciates "all the love, all the support and everything that's just been coming in my way." Hamlin was initially listed in critical condition before making what doctors called “remarkable improvement." He was released from UC Medical Center to Buffalo General Medical Center one week after his collapse and is now recovering at home and at his team’s training facility.
3 McCarthy Wants A "Reasonable" Debt Ceiling Bill, Will Meet With Biden This Week
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is optimistic about his upcoming meeting with President Biden to discuss the debt ceiling. He appeared on CBS' Face the Nation, saying that even though Biden's staff "tries to say something different,” he is confident they will come to an agreement on the issue, who he revealed he plans to meet with on Wednesday. This comes after the administration's previous claims that they would not negotiate with House GOP members as they look for ways to impose spending cuts. As for what McCarthy plans to make cuts to, FTN’s Margaret Brennan brought up concerns that some Republicans want to cut parts of Social Security and Medicare. To that, McCarthy said, “Let’s take those off the table.” Although he did make it clear that cuts to defense spending are still in play.