NLE Choppa Speaks Out On Tragic Death Of Tyre Nichols, Calls For Love And Peace

On Friday, Memphis rapper NLE Choppa took to social media to express his thoughts on the recent tragedy of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old man who died from police brutality. Nichols was stopped by police in Memphis on January 7, 2023, after a traffic stop. Three days later, on January 10, he died from injuries sustained during the encounter with police.

As the tragic incident of Tyre Nichols continues to unfold, opinions and reactions to the situation continue to pour in from the public. Bodycam footage of the officers brutally attacking Nichols was released on social media, sparking NLE Choppa to address the situation in a video on his social media account. In the video, he expressed his condolences to the family of the victim, particularly his mother, and shared his view that social media has a tendency to overlook the importance of rest and peace.

In the video posted to his social media account, NLE Choppa said, “First and foremost, I want to start this video by saying rest in peace Tyre Nichols. Secondly, I want to say peace, love, blessings, happiness, joy, and smiles to the family, and most importantly to his mother. Thirdly, I want to touch on the topic of ‘rest in peace.' I feel like social media has come to turn ‘rest' and ‘peace' into something that is overlooked.”

NLE Choppa also expressed his disappointment in the way that the footage was released, calling it “gruesome” and “hard to digest,” and suggesting that it could have been handled with more respect for the victim's innocent soul and his family.

The rapper ended the video by showing a snippet of Nichols skateboarding and concluded by saying “rest in peace Tyre, I know this video is what you would have wanted the world to see.”

On his social media account, he also tweeted his thoughts on the way the footage was released, saying “I'll never respect how footage is released of something so gruesome to keep people vibrating in the state of fear, anger and hate! It should be way more respect for his innocent soul and even his FAMILY. What happened to rest in “PEACE” SMFH!! #RIPThyreNichols.”

Despite NLE Choppa's intentions being good and understandable, not everyone agrees with his viewpoint. Social media is a platform where thoughts and opinions are often divided, and this case is no different. A social media user responded to NLE Choppa's video by saying, “I don't agree with you at all. It's horrible to watch, but it's needed to be seen to see the brutality that we suffer from police. It also brings awareness to those people who don't think this behaviour occurs by police. Also, the family more than likely was consulted about the video.”

It is important to note that everyone has a right to their own opinion and perspective on a matter. NLE Choppa's viewpoint is one of compassion and empathy towards the victim's family, while the social media user's viewpoint is one of the need for transparency and accountability in the actions of police officers. Both perspectives have valid points and both are important to consider in this ongoing conversation about police brutality.

It is also worth noting that there is often a call for body camera footage to be released in these situations to provide transparency and accountability. However, it is also important to consider the feelings and well-being of the victim's family during this process. It is likely that the family was consulted before the footage was released.

During an interview with ABC News, Nichols's family stated that the body camera footage of his encounter with the police has left them angry, saddened and looking for more answers as to why he was brutalized.

In another interview with CNN Nichols's family spoke about the footage saying “They beat my son like a piñata. My son had Crohn's disease, and he has surgery in 2013. My son weighed a buck 50.”

In the end, it is important to remember that NLE Choppa's message is not to dismiss the importance of police accountability, but rather to call for a more compassionate and empathetic approach when discussing these tragic events, and to show respect for the victim and their family.

In the wake of the incident, five Memphis Police Department officers were fired after an internal investigation and are now facing criminal charges, including second-degree murder. This tragic event has once again brought attention to the ongoing issues of police brutality and the need for accountability and reform within law enforcement agencies. As the community continues to mourn the loss of Tyre Nichols, it is important to remember his life and legacy and to work towards a future where incidents like this do not happen.

Today NLE Choppa is calling on the community to come together in memory of the late Tyre Nichols. He has created the hashtag #SkateForTyre and came up with a location in Memphis for a peaceful march and skate. He encourages people to bring their skateboards, roller skates, or even Heelies to show respect for Tyre and honour his passion for skating. The event will take place at 4687 Cottonwood Rd at 2 PM and he urges everyone to spread the word and join in this peaceful and loving tribute to Tyre.