Statement on Murder of Tyre Nichols
The Liberty Hill Community is devastated by the recent, tragic murders of Black men at the hands of police violence. It’s hard to find the right words to express the outrage and sadness we are feeling at this moment.
We mourn the loss of Tyre Nichols — a young man on the cusp of his future, Keenan Anderson, a loving son, teacher, and devoted father — and all those lost to the scourge of police brutality.
The phrase “not again” echoes through our minds.
The start of the new year is supposed to bring new opportunities. But those possibilities—that future—were stolen from Tyre Nichols on a street corner in Memphis. Just like they have been for so many others whose lives have been affected by police violence.
While our hearts ache, we refuse to become numb to these heinous acts committed by members of law enforcement. It is time to move beyond conversations about hope and aspirations and outrage to real structural change. The systems of punishment and harm that allow this violence to be perpetuated against people of color will not transform themselves.
These injustices will continue to be met with community action, resilience and perseverance.
Liberty Hill stands with the community in pushing against systemic injustice in its many forms, including the kind that led to Tyre Nichols’s murder. We join the philanthropic community in supporting the California Black Freedom Fund, whose goal is to invest in Black-led movements pushing for racial justice. And we will continue to stand side by side with our partners in support of the fight for systemic change to policing in our communities.
Until justice for all is realized,
Shane Murphy Goldsmith
President & CEO
Liberty Hill Foundation
If you would like to explore other community organizations who are focused on the issue of ending police violence, investing in community safety, and charting a course forward, please see this list of our partners and other community organizations below: