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'I was shot by police': Protester, 76, demands justice for Tyre Nichols as 'very little has changed'

After an investigation, it was alleged that five Memphis Police Department officers, were allegedly responsible for the death of Tyre Nichols

MEMPHIS, TENESSEE: Tyre Nichols' death has left the country reeling, and protesters are out on the streets claiming justice for the 29-year-old FedEx worker. A 76-year-old protester's video is gaining social media attention, where he can be seen saying, "I was shot in my back by the police. My brother was shot in his back by the police. Pro-life for 50 years. Couldn't do anything. I still got three bullets in me today where I was shot. I was shot when Martin Luther King was killed." 

Nichols was taken to the hospital on Saturday, January 7, and eventually died on Tuesday, January 10. After an internal investigation, it was alleged that five Memphis Police Department officers, who also are BLACK, were allegedly responsible for the death. The officers were reportedly fired and are facing criminal charges, including second-degree murder, as per CNN.

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What did the protester claim?

The protester added, "We who are on the streets had no voice. We had nobody to go to and to speak to other media. We're here. So we took to the streets. That's why I was shot. That's the day I was shot. When Martin Luther King was killed and assassinated. I and my friends, went to the streets to show our response to it that you killed our leader. And we responded. And that day I was shot in my back by the police for running from me."

He further stated, "Did anything happen to the police officer who shot? Not a thing. Not a thing. Then I kept running. I kept running. Wind up in the hospital stand almost a week, maybe two weeks. Thought I was going to die. When my father looked at me, he said, I don't think you're gonna make it. But I went on to make to help to create one of the strongest organizations in the District of Columbia. And what's that? The alliance of Concerned Men. So this is the reason why I'm here. Very little has changed. Very little has changed in the contents of that because black lives do not matter. People of color's lives do not matter in America." 

'This man is powerful'

The Internet quickly reacted to the protester's video. A user said, "Please post this everywhere. It hit me so hard. This man is powerful. His story, his way of explaining. This man is a hero to still stand strong in the streets for black lives." Another added, "This is beyond sad. Something has got to give." A user claimed, "High respect to that man." "This hurts, nothings changed except the wicked have more of a voice than ever before," wrote a user. 

Another said, "Generations of black people terrorised and traumatised by police." A user claimed, "What is so hard about this? Stop hiring people who can't handle the job. It seems a lot of cops lack self control. Test then before hiring them." Another stated, "Powerful!!! Very little has changed, is 100% accurate." "Sadly it has not changed! How desperately IT NEEDS TO CHANGE! Cops should be charged DOUBLE in cases like this as THE SHOULD KNOW BETTER!," read a tweet. 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.