Tyre Nichols murder: Why do we scream for our mothers when we're in greatest danger?
Warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE: A heartbreaking bodycam footage of five police officers savagely beating Tyre Nichols to death has been released. The viral footage comes a day after the five police officers involved were charged with the murder of the 29-year-old FedEx driver. The video filled with graphic, violent moments shows a hapless Nichols reportedly being pepper sprayed, kicked, and punched in the head by the officers while being struck with a metal baton, as he continuously screamed for his mother in pain.
Throughout the attack, the officers, who are also black, could be heard screaming profanities at him while Nichols could be heard saying, "Mom! Mom!", pleading, “I'm just trying to go home." The violent incident took place on January 7, following a traffic stop for purported reckless driving. Immediately after the officers stopped him, they appeared to drag the 29-year-old from the driver's seat as one yelled. "Get the f**k out of the f*****g car." "D**n, I didn't do anything ... I am just trying to go home," responded Nichols. "On the ground, on the ground," an officer said, as cops forced Nichols to the ground, and squirted him in the face with pepper spray.
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WARNING: This is the brutal bodycam footage of Tyre Nichols. It is VERY difficult to watch, especially the end when he calls out to his mother. pic.twitter.com/eTUh0GsEsG
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) January 28, 2023
"Alright, I'm on the ground," Nichols said, with a cop responding profanely, "B***h, put your hands behind your back before I …. I'm going to knock your ass the f***k out." "Get on the f*****g ground. I'm going to tase you," one cop said, according to Daily Mail. "You guys are really doing a lot right now. I'm just trying to go home," begged Nichols, who lived a few blocks away from where the attack took place. The officer began kicking Nichols as he lay on the ground, which is when Nichols broke free and tried to sprint away to save his life.
The officers then chased Nichols, while one fired a taser at him, and roughly half a mile away, they tackled him down. One officer pepper-sprayed him while another continued to pummel him in the face. The officer then extended a telescoping metal baton, shouting, 'I'm gonna baton the f**k out of him!' before striking Nichols. The alleged altercation took place for 4 minutes where they repeatedly kicked him and punched him as he lay pinned to the ground. Nichols was heard repeatedly screaming, "Mom! Mom!" during the struggle.
Minutes after the altercation, Nichlos appeared to be unresponsive, while the cops were heard cursing, wisecracking, and ordering him to sit up as he slumped over onto the pavement. Even after the paramedics arrived, Nichols remained slumped over on the pavement for nearly half an hour without significant medical intervention. He was then transported on a stretcher and taken to a hospital where he died three days later on January 10.
The five officers identified, Tadarrius Bean, Emmit Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., Justin Smith, and Demetrius Hailey, have been charged with second-degree murder in Nichols's death. According to the Memphis District Attorney, the second-degree murder charges were described as "knowing murder" and under Tennessee law, the charges can lead to sentencing of 15 to 60 years behind the bars.
Why do we scream for our mothers in danger?
Psychologically, calling out to your mother in a fearful or dangerous situation is a primal response based on an essential connection one feels. Dr Dale Atkins, a psychologist, claims that it is in times of vulnerability that we need to be propped up. She claims we call our mothers because they are strong and can hold us. We are instinctually emotionally attached to our mothers.
Maternal bonding with a child is an incredibly powerful experience that can last a lifetime. In happiness or sadness or fearful situations — the extremes — we want to feel that we are not alone, and feel protected. The psychologist said a parent once said to her "that a shared joy is twice the joy and a shared sorrow is half the sorrow," reported Repeller.