I agree with numerous people who have stated that they disagreed with the verdict in the Tyre Nichols case in Memphis. The not guilty verdict, concluded by a Chattanooga jury was a devastating miscarriage of justice, as determined by Attorney Benjamin Crump.
Given the circumstances resulting in the death of unarmed Tyre Nichols, people seemed shocked by the verdict. Initially, I was surprised, as well, until I realized that the jury was from Chattanooga.
When it was decided to bring in an outside jury from Chattanooga, the defense must have been delighted. They, and their police officer clients, could not have been happier. That decision was comparable to winning the lottery. Because of the actions of some unlawful officers, Chattanooga has a history of unarmed persons meeting death at the hands of police officers. In those cases, it is rare that police officers are held accountable, if ever.
The more common outcome, of which I am aware, is that the victim is blamed; instances of cover-up and lies are put into motion; and the officers are given a week off with pay. I am not speaking of instances in which the life of an officer is in danger. I am addressing situations, in which there is clearly no harm or anticipated danger to the officers. The outcome of those interactions could have ended with everyone going home to be with their families, the officers and the victims.
I have completed research and conducted presentations focused on police officer misconduct, leading to the death of unarmed citizens. Also, I have written a book, “Excessive Use of Force,” on the topic. More importantly, I have personal experience in one of those cases, which was very similar to the video of George Floyd’s death. On Jan. 2, 2004, my unarmed son, Leslie Vaughn Prater, died when four Chattanooga police officers caused his death from positional asphyxiation. Two autopsy reports determined that Leslie’s death resulted from a homicide. The four officers involved were given a week off with pay, and returned to the positions, even prior to the completion of any investigation. In later years, one was promoted to the position of police Sergeant in the Chattanooga Police Department.
The police chief and mayor in Memphis have asked their citizens to allow the city to heal. I believe that they wished the verdict had been different. As a non-violent person, I hope the city can heal. I can tell you that, for Tyre Nichols’ family, there is no healing. For 21 years, our wound remains open. Families of victims can only hope to learn to live with the pain. The grief journey is doubled. There is the grief of the physical loss of your love one, and the loss of justice. Our sons were treated as disposables.
At the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, our family established a scholarship dedicated to helping undergraduate students receive a degree in criminal justice. It is our hope and prayer that potential officers will receive more education, focused on behaviors of critical thinking to preserve life, rather than to destroy. The scholarship is “The Endowed Leslie Vaughn Prater Memorial Scholarship in Criminal Justice,” which highlights that justice is for all.
Dr. Loretta P. Prater
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I read Dr Prater's book years ago. I still have it. I've always felt a close connection to her family and the tragic killing of her son, Leslie. As my own son, during that period, could have very much met the same fate when he and his former wife, both military, returned home on a short weekend leave. Her unit was scheduled to be deployed to Iraq. The military base where she was stationed, they were stationed at difference military bases in different states, was scheduled to go into lockdown the following week. So my son traveled to her base to bring her home to Chattanooga to see family before she left. She was due to be deployed for a year. No military person would be allowed the leave the base come the following Monday until the moment they were on the plane heading to Iraq.
At first I felt the connection because of Dr. Prater's son's encounter with Chattanooga police - although Leslie's encounter ended in a tragic killing, while my son's encounter was met with verbal and physical abuse. I would become a target for speaking out on the issue, because lots of young men, white and black, in the racially mixed community where I live were having similar and same experiences, not much different from my own son, even before his encounter and I'd spoken out before only to be brushed off, snubbed and threatened.
I noticed in Dr. Prater's book another military victim of a police brutal killing - although it happened in another state - Marine Sergeant Derek Hale. Derek Hale was white. I mention his race to show our concerns aren't just only for members of our own race, but for any victim of police brutality and even the police - those who go about their day with honor, pride, respect for themselves the people and communities they serve.
Dr. Prater met with Marine Sergeant Derek Hale's mother. There's a photo of them together in her book, "Excessive Use Of Force." I'd read about Sergeant Hale's killing in the news at the time it took place, and only later came across it again in Dr. Prater's book. It was a most bizarre and hideous killing that still haunts the conscience to this day for anyone who fully read the details of the killing. According to Dr. Prater's book, along with stories I'd already previously come across in the news.
Sargent Hale lived in Manassas Virginia, but had traveled to Wilmington, Delaware to take part in a Toys For Tots run sponsored by the motorcycle club he belonged to. Derek was sitting on the steps of a friend, unarmed, when he was approached by several cops. Police claimed they suspected the club was involved in criminal activity. Marine Sergeant Hale "had no criminal record and there was no evidence he was involved in any criminal activity," according to the book and news articles.
Derek was "tased three times in rapid succession by two cops." When he failed to raise his arms when told to do so, due to the effects the tasers were still having on his body, that's when Marine Sergeant Hale was said to have been shot at close range in the chest. He died. A contractor working next door at another residence, witnessed the entire events that lead to Sgt. Hale's killing.
I thought my deep feelings for Leslie and his family were due to my son's own close encounter when he and his wife returned home on leave, and he decided to take a simple walk in the community he was born and grew up in before enlisting in the Air Force. That's true too. However, the connection might actually go even deeper. I only learned years later, although not by blood, Dr. Prater and I might have family connections on my mother's side. My mother's media-hermana (half sister) once told me she is a cousin of Dr. Prater. How closely a cousin I'm not sure.
The point being, in some way or another, we're all connected on this small planet called earth. We can either learn to get along, regardless of class, race, religion, gender, whatever or at the end of the day we can wipe out one another completely from the planet. Mother earth will replenish herself and survive. Mankind, in his chest-beating arrogant nature way, may not be as lucky.
"Give Peace A Chance"
Brenda Washington