Reflections on the death of Tyre Nichols

Honestly, I struggle to formulate the words to articulate my feelings and emotions in the aftermath of the recent tragedies in our nation. With the recent murder of Tyre Nichols at the hands of police, I took Saturday to process, to better understand my own emotions, and identify what exactly I am feeling. While no words can fully describe the depth of pain felt by communities around the nation, I join those who stand in outrage, disgust, and sadness. I said to myself, “here we go again…” to what seems like an unceasing series of violence. It all feels like too much to hold and process at once. 

 

Most recently, Memphis officials released the video footage of Tyre Nichols’ violent encounter with the five officers, who have since been charged with his murder. I thought carefully about whether or not I should watch it as constant exposure to such content can be traumatizing, especially to members of the community who share an ethno-racial identity with the target. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I ever would. But yesterday morning, I took a deep breath and prepared myself for what I was about to see. I thought about the courage of the family who fought for the video footage to be released to ensure that this part of the story could be witnessed and watched by millions as a critical reminder of our need for greater accountability and justice.

 

At a key moment during the encounter with the officers, Tyre Nichols said, “I’m just trying to get home.” These words have since played over in my mind as I think about the pleas of far too many unarmed Black and brown people whose lives have ended due to police violence. Moreover, increasing occurrences of violent acts in our nation jeopardize the likelihood that people will return safely to the comfort of their families and friends. So when I am tempted to remain silent in times of confusion, sadness, and uncertainty, I am reminded of the power of our collective voices and their ability to change outcomes so that loved ones return to the places they desire unharmed. 

 

We must use our voices to speak out so that another person does not have to perish during police contact. To speak out in hopes that we will restructure our local laws and policies to ensure that police departments engage in conduct that is appropriate and are held accountable when they do not. We must continue speaking out against the police using excessive force in interactions with unarmed Black and brown people. We must continue to speak out against any systems that seek to dehumanize others and render them less valuable - less deserving of life. I think about the law enforcement officers who chose not to intervene in the critical sixteen minutes before Tyre Nichols’ EMTs arrived to administer critical care. What if one of the five officers spoke up and said, “ENOUGH!”?

 

As a Hawken community, we will use our voices to speak out against hateful acts and model ways to affirm human dignity. We must commit to continually learning about challenging moments in history to better understand how systems of violence towards people of color have persisted for centuries - and most importantly, to learn methods to change unjust systems and outcomes. We will uplift humanity and teach our students the importance of acting in ways that demonstrate top consideration for the value of human life. We will challenge ourselves to use our power and positionality fairly, carefully, dutifully, and wisely to affirm all humanity.

 

Most of all, we commit to keeping our students safe and will seek to prioritize their diverse needs in the aftermath of these events. We know that students may process in different ways and are ready to meet them where they are as they experience a range of emotions. We will be especially vigilant and sensitive to the needs of community members whose exposure to these events can be profoundly traumatic due to the frequency of occurrences. Faculty and Student Life professionals at all campuses stand ready to support students and faculty/staff as the need arises. In addition, the following resources can assist you as you have discussions with your children about these difficult national events. 

Please know that we are here to support you as you navigate these challenging and troubling times.