President Biden on Friday afternoon spoke with the parents of Tyre Nichols, sharing sorrow of their loss after he was beaten to death by Memphis police during a traffic stop earlier this month — and responding to their call to renew efforts for police reforms.
Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, and step-father, Rodney Wells, together with attorney Benjamin Crump, chatted with the president before disturbing footage that captured Memphis cops savagely beating and tasering Nichols on Jan. 7.
The 29-year-old father died within the hospital three days later within the hospital.
Through the call, Crump urged Biden and federal legislators to pass police reforms to “prevent the following Tyre Nichols from happening.”
“Hopefully the House of Representatives and Senators are also watching, and this offers you one other opportunity to call for them to come back back and pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act,” Crump said.
“We’re in full agreement as Ben will let you know, Mom and Dad,” Biden said. “I couldn’t get that passed, but what I did by executive order, I made sure that each federal agent has to abide by that act.”
“Well that’s a start,” RowVaugh Wells said.
“We’ve got to get it for local police,” Biden added.
Nichols’ mother shared tender memories of her son, just like the indisputable fact that he “actually tattooed my name on his arm.”
“That’s what you call something special,” Biden replied softly.
The president said that Nichols “was a hell of a child and a handsome boy,” and that despite the sadness surrounding his death, it might likely have a positive impact on his siblings.
“He’s gonna be a model for them,” Biden said. “You recognize that awful expression, only the great die young.”
The president bonded with the Wells’ over the pain of the lack of their child and shared anecdotes about his late son, Beau, who died from a brain tumor in 2015.
“I still have the letters and notes and the memorabilia that Beau gave me,” Biden said. “As you walk out of the Oval Office, there’s an image of him in a framed photograph of him, with one among my oldest granddaughters sitting on his shoulders.”
Biden offered advice to Nichols’ parents for navigating the emotionally devastating road of life without their son.
“If it gets really rough, don’t be afraid to ask for help,” the president said. “That is like if you happen to were in a battlefield and something happened to yourself. It’s called post-traumatic stress.”
“I hope you guys can come and see me someday, I’d love to satisfy you,” he added.
Read more of the Post’s coverage of Tyre Nichols’ beating death
“Once you invite us to the White House, we’ll be there,” Nichols’ mother responded.
“You’re invited immediately!” the president exclaimed.
Five cops who were involved in Nichols’ arrest — Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith — were fired by the Memphis Police Department.
All five have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression.
Biden said in an announcement Friday that he was “deeply pained” by the attack and called for a “swift, full, and transparent investigation” following the discharge of the police footage.
“We must do the whole lot in our power to make sure our criminal justice system lives as much as the promise of fair and impartial justice, equal treatment, and dignity for all,” he said. “Real and lasting change will only come if we take motion to stop tragedies like this from ever happening again.”
