This combo of booking images provided by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office shows, from top row from left, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, bottom row from left, Desmond Mills, Jr. and Justin Smith. (Shelby County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
LOS ANGELES — With Friday’s planned release of graphic video depicting the fatal beating of a 29-year-old Black man by five Memphis, Tennessee, police officers, Southern California law enforcement agencies will be keeping a close watch to respond to possible local protests that might emerge.
A Los Angeles Police Department representative told City News Service the agency is monitoring the situation but has not moved into an official state of heightened alert.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department also said it is monitoring, but there was no other official statement.
Some city of Los Angeles neighborhood councils received messages from the LAPD this week saying police are aware of the pending release of video and the possibility of protests, and noting that the department is prepared to respond and facilitate peaceful demonstrations. The messages noted that there were no known “threats or protests” in the city in advance of the video release, which is expected at 4 p.m. Pacific time.
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes, in a statement on social media, said the agency is on standby.
“We understand there may be strong reactions to the incident described by the Memphis police chief as ‘reckless and inhumane,’” Barnes said. “At this time, we do not have information that any significant events will occur locally related to the release of this video. Our department will protect the First Amendment rights of those who peacefully demonstrate. We are also appropriately prepared and ready to respond if anyone attempts to act criminally.”
Rev. Andre E Johnson, of the Gifts of Life Ministries, preaches at a candlelight vigil for Tyre Nichols, who died after being beaten by Memphis police officers, in Memphis, Tenn., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. Behind him, seated at left, is Tyre’s stepfather Rodney Wells. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A woman cries during a candlelight vigil for Tyre Nichols, who died after being beaten by Memphis police officers, in Memphis, Tenn., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
This combo of images provided by the Memphis Police Department shows, from top row from left, officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, bottom row, from left, Desmond Mills, Jr. and Justin Smith. The five former Memphis police officers have been charged with second-degree murder and other crimes in the arrest and death of Tyre Nichols, a Black motorist who died three days after a confrontation with the officers during a traffic stop, records showed Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. (Memphis Police Department via AP)
People hold candles at a candlelight vigil for Tyre Nichols, who died after being beaten by Memphis police officers, in Memphis, Tenn., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A portrait of Tyre Nichols is displayed at a memorial service for him on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023 in Memphis, Tenn. Nichols was killed during a traffic stop with Memphis Police on Jan. 7. (AP Photo/Adrian Sainz)
FILE – Family members and supporters hold a photograph of Tyre Nichols at a news conference in Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 23, 2023. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023 the federal investigation into the death of a Black man who died after a violent arrest by Memphis police “may take some time.” Speaking during a news conference, U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz said his office is working with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in Washington as it investigates the case of Tyre Nichols, who died three days after his Jan. 7 arrest. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, file)
FILE – Kenyana Dixon is comforted during a rally for her brother Tyre Nichols at the National Civil Rights Museum on Jan. 16, 2023. Nichols was killed during a traffic stop with Memphis Police on Jan. 7. Memphis was a city on edge Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 amid anticipation of the release of video footage of a Black man’s violent arrest and subsequent death that has led to three separate law enforcement investigations and the firings of five police officers. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian via AP, file)
RowVaughn Wells, mother of Tyre Nichols, who died after being beaten by Memphis police officers, leaves at the conclusion of a candlelight vigil for Tyre, in Memphis, Tenn., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Rev. Andre E Johnson, of the Gifts of Life Ministries, preaches at a candlelight vigil for Tyre Nichols, who died after being beaten by Memphis police officers, in Memphis, Tenn., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. Behind him, seated center, are Tyre’s mother RowVaughn Wells and his stepfather Rodney Wells. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Rev. Andre E Johnson, of the Gifts of Life Ministries, preaches at a candlelight vigil for Tyre Nichols, who died after being beaten by Memphis police officers, in Memphis, Tenn., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. Behind at left are Tyre’s mother RowVaughn Wells and his stepfather Rodney Wells. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
People hold up candles and fists at a candlelight vigil for Tyre Nichols, who died after being beaten by Memphis police officers, in Memphis, Tenn., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A young mourner looks down at her candle during a vigil for Tyre Nichols, who died after being beaten by Memphis police officers, in Memphis, Tenn., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian via AP)
RowVaughn Wells, center, mother of Tyre Nichols, who died after being beaten by Memphis police officers, is comforted by his stepfather Rodney Wells, at the conclusion of a candlelight vigil for Tyre, in Memphis, Tenn., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The video is expected to depict a Jan. 7 traffic stop in Memphis that led to the death in a hospital three days later of Tyre Nichols. Five police officers allegedly involved in the confrontation and beating of Nichols were fired last week, and all were charged this week with second-degree murder and other offenses.
Police and others familiar with the case have warned that the video is graphic, rivaling that of the 1991 LAPD beating of Rodney King.
A group of community activists gathered in Leimert Park on Friday morning ahead of the video’s release, calling for peaceful protests, and urging residents to gather to watch the video “collectively as one.”
Activist Najee Ali noted that after the 2020 death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, Los Angeles “exploded with different protests … all over L.A. County.”
Nichols’ family has spoken out in advance of the video release, calling for peace.
“More than anything we want peace,” Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, said Thursday. “We do not want any type of uproar. We do not want any type of disturbance.”
Famed civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Nichols’ family and also represented Floyd’s family, also called for peace and hailed Memphis officials for acting swiftly to fire the officers involved and charge them with murder.
Rodney King‘s daughter, Lora Dene King, issued a statement through Ali Thursday decrying the police assault of Nichols as “extremely sickening.”
“We should not have to witness such things in this world over and over with a different name behind the hashtags,” she said.
“Watching these type of videos has become very disturbing. It triggers past beatings often in comparison to my father’s brutal 1991 beating with the LAPD. This is something I will never understand. I wish to send the family God’s Grace and mercy and strength to keep his legacy and good deeds alive as well. I am happy to know he (Nichols) loved skateboarding like my father. I hope his family find strength the most; in the days to come.”
