UPDATE 1-Tyre Nichols’ mom, stepfather to attend Biden State of the Union speech

(Provides Congressional Black Caucus assertion on requesting assembly with Biden this week)

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON, Jan 30 (Reuters) – The mom and stepfather of Tyre Nichols, the Black man who was fatally crushed by Memphis cops, have accepted an invite to attend U.S. President Joe Biden’s State of the Union deal with in February.

Congressional Black Caucus govt director Vincent Evans tweeted on Sunday that the caucus chairman, U.S. Consultant Steven Horsford, invited Nichols’ dad and mom to Washington for the State of the Union deal with, and that they’ve accepted the invitation.

Nichols repeatedly cried, “Mother! Mother!” because the 5 Memphis cops charged with the Black motorist’s homicide pummeled him with kicks, punches and baton blows after a Jan. 7 visitors cease, video launched by the town on Friday confirmed.

The officers, all Black, have been dismissed from the police division. Nichols, 29, was hospitalized and died of his accidents three days after the confrontation within the metropolis the place he lived along with his mom and stepfather and labored at FedEx. Police additionally suspended a sixth officer within the case.

The Congressional Black Caucus additionally mentioned it was requesting a gathering with Biden this week to push for negotiations on nationwide reforms to the U.S. justice and police techniques.

“The brutal beating of Tyre Nichols was homicide and is a grim reminder that we nonetheless have a protracted strategy to go in fixing systemic police violence in America,” it added.

Nichols’ dying marked the newest high-profile occasion of cops accused of utilizing extreme pressure within the deaths of Black individuals and different minorities lately.

Biden spoke on Friday to Nichols’ mom, RowVaughn Wells, and his stepfather, Rodney Wells. Nichols’ mom hoped the tragedy may result in a “higher good,” the household’s legal professional mentioned.

Biden will ship his second State of the Union deal with on Feb. 7.

Biden is anticipated to make use of the speech, which is delivered throughout a joint session of Congress, as an unofficial begin to the 2024 presidential marketing campaign season, laying out coverage priorities that would face tough sledding in Congress after Republicans gained management of the Home of Representatives within the midterm elections.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Modifying by David Gregorio)