Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2023

January 26, 2023

Jill and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Tyre Nichols and the entire Memphis community. Tyre's family deserves a swift, full, and transparent investigation into his death.

As Americans grieve, the Department of Justice conducts its investigation, and State authorities continue their work, I join Tyre's family in calling for peaceful protest. Outrage is understandable, but violence is never acceptable. Violence is destructive and against the law. It has no place in peaceful protests seeking justice.

Public trust is the foundation of public safety, and there are still too many places in America today where the bonds of trust are frayed or broken. Tyre's death is a painful reminder that we must do more to ensure that our criminal justice system lives up to the promise of fair and impartial justice, equal treatment, and dignity for all.

We also cannot ignore the fact that fatal encounters with law enforcement have disparately impacted Black and Brown people. To deliver real change, we must have accountability when law enforcement officers violate their oaths, and we need to build lasting trust between law enforcement, the vast majority of whom wear the badge honorably, and the communities they are sworn to serve and protect.

That is why I called on Congress to send the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to my desk. When they didn't, I signed an Executive order that included stricter use-of-force standards and accountability provisions for Federal law enforcement, as well as measures to strengthen accountability at the State and local level.

Today we all must recommit ourselves to the critical work that must be done to advance meaningful reforms.

NOTE: The statement referred to Tyre Nichols, who died as a result of injuries he received during an encounter with Memphis, TN, police officers following a traffic stop on January 7.

Categories: Statements by the President : Tyre Nichols, death. Names: Biden, Jill T.; Nichols, Tyre.

Subjects: Criminal justice system, reform efforts; Deaths, Tyre Nichols; Law enforcement, use- of-force policy improvement; Policing best practices, improvement efforts; Tennessee, policed- involved beating and death in Memphis.

DCPD Number: DCPD202300055.

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