ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Resurrected Life Community Church will hold a community lament and service of remembrance for Tyre Nichols at 7 p.m. Sunday in Allentown, according to a Facebook post from senior pastor Gregory Edwards.
Footage was released Friday of Nichols' fatal encounter with law enforcement in Memphis, sparking protests nationwide.
- Resurrected Life Community Church in Allentown will hold a service Sunday for Tyre Nichols
- Nichols, 29, was beaten to death by Memphis police
- Video of Nichols' death was released on Friday, sparking nationwide protests
The 29-year-old was savagely beaten by police officers following a traffic stop, and others stood by and failed to render aid as he lay motionless on the ground.
The recording showed police beating Nichols, who is Black, for more than three minutes while screaming profanities at him. Nichols called out for his mother before his limp body lay against a squad car while officers exchanged fist-bumps.
The five former Memphis Police Department officers, who are also Black, have been fired and charged with second-degree murder and other crimes in Nichols’ death.
All five officers — Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith — face up to 60 years in prison if convicted.
The Memphis police chief on Saturday disbanded the city's so-called Scorpion unit, which the officers were part of, reversing an earlier statement that she would keep it intact.
The unit was composed of three teams of about 30 officers who target violent offenders in areas dealing with high crime rates. It had been inactive since Nichols' Jan. 7 arrest.
Scorpion stands for Street Crimes Operations to Restore Peace in our Neighborhoods.
In a Facebook post Saturday, Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk said he prayed for peace for Nichols' family and encouraged the community to attend Sunday's service at the church at Ninth and Turner streets in the city's downtown.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
