International- A national Black fraternity kicked out three former officers charged for Tyre Nichols' death.
- Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. condemned the officers' actions and revoked their memberships.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., a historically Black fraternity, has kicked out the former Memphis police officers involved in the death of Tyre Nichols.
"Effective immediately, the Fraternity has revoked the membership of the three former Memphis police officers and all related privileges they may have enjoyed as members of our Fraternity," the organization said in a January 31 statement, though it did not specifically name which of the three ex-cops were members.
The officers — Emmitt Martin III, Tadarrius Bean, and Desmond Mills Jr. — had their memberships revoked from the national fraternity this week, The Memphis Commercial Appeal and NBC News reported.
"The brutality shown in the video violated our moral sensibilities and transgressed our Fraternal and established Code of Conduct. We have the utmost confidence in the judicial process and fervently pray that the Nichols family will obtain justice," the statement continued.
Officers beat Nichols, a 29-year-old, after stopping him at a supposed traffic stop on January 7 and died due to his injuries three days later. The department terminated five officers due to violating the department's policies, and the force's so-called SCORPION unit, which they were a part of, was disbanded.
They were charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression, Tennessee law-enforcement officials announced on January 26.
Body-cam footage from the encounter, which sparked largely peaceful protests calling for more police oversight, shows Nichols calling out for his mother. In the footage, at least one of the officers was wearing what appeared to be a wristband commemorating Omega Psi Phi.
The organization's recent statement comes after an initial one on January 29 condemning the officers' "violent" actions against Nichols, but failed to acknowledge Mills Jr., Bean, and Martin III's affiliation and membership status, prompting some pushback on social media.
—Omega Psi Phi® Fraternity (@OfficialOPPF) January 29, 2023
Speaking with NBC News, David Allen Brown, a member of Omega Psi Phi, emphasized that the officers' encounter with Tyre is not a reflection of what the organization stands for.
"I've always looked at Omega men as being leaders and leaders of leaders, learning Robert's Rules of Order, learning how to be a man, learning how to respect the sanctity of womanhood, embracing that extended family that comes with the brotherhood," Brown said, per the outlet. "What the video showed was not Omega."
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.