Statement on the murder of Tyre Nichols Published on February 3, 2023

As we enter Black History Month, the recent release of the footage of the brutal fatal beating of Tyre Nichols reminds us that we are still rooted in a history of dehumanizing, devaluing, and brutalizing black people.  Peace Development Fund is devastated by the recent violent murder of Tyre Nichols at the hands of police.  Our hearts ache for him, his family, his community, and our nation as we grapple with incidents like this that are all too common. 

During these dark hours, I see hope in the outrage and common horror over this incident.  But we know that outrage isn’t enough; it takes action to reform institutions and dismantle more than a century of structural racism.  Many of our grantees have been fighting for criminal justice and policing reform around the country for years.  People’s Justice Project of Ohio recently passed a ballot initiative to amend Akron’s charter to reform policing.  We know that it will take many PJP’s to see the kind of change that is necessary. 

We stand with activists pushing for systemic change and changing the deep injustices that led to Tyre Nichol’s murder.  We believe that the arc of history bends towards justice but sometimes needs to be nudged in the right direction. We encourage our supporters to invest in BIPOC-led movements for racial justice and we will continue to do so. We will also continue to stand with our partners in the movement for social justice and systemic change to policing. 

In peace, 

Paul Haible 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/tyre-nichols