Florida Lawmaker Reasserts That Criminal Justice System is Built on Racism

When Tyre Nichols was pulled over by five Memphis Police officers and brutally beaten and killed, Americans were rightfully disgusted by the police brutality, but was the tragic incident anchored in racism?

Nichols was black, as were the five officers that have now been charged with his murder, but some lawmakers, specifically freshman Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) believe it was racially motivated.

Rep. Frost, who has been a gun violence advocate,  called the tragic incident nothing more than “anti-Black” and of a criminal justice system that is based on “white supremacy.”

“Doesn't matter what color those police officers are. The murder of Tyre Nichols is anti-Black and the result of a system built on white supremacy,” tweeted Rep. Frost.

A defensive-sounding Rep. Maxwell deleted his tweet and explained the reason for him doing so was that he “wanted to add more context” in “the spirit” of educating those who were remotely interested in learning more about what he was trying to say in his initial statement.

Frost went on to defend his deletion of the racially-charged tweet, by doubling down that the current criminal justice system is based on “white supremacy” and that “Black people” are more likely to find themselves behind bars than white people because of the color of their skin.

Here is what Rep. Frost stated:

Diversity in police ranks has not solved the crisis of policing where Black people are the prime targets of brutality and incarceration.

They’re more likely to be arrested and jailed for the same crimes committed by white people. They’re more likely to be convicted of a crime. They have longer jail sentences. And they’re far less likely to get parole - all for the same crimes committed as white people.

To deny the anti-Blackness and white supremacy undergirding our justice system is to blind yourself from reality. We need a completely holistic, top-to-bottom approach to ensure justice in our country and accountability for actors in these systems.

Congress must make it their mission to change the way public safety operates in America. People’s lives are on the line and I will do everything in my power to move this forward.

Some of Frost’s Democratic colleagues also spoke out about Nichols’ death but did not go as far as the young lawmaker.

“We can’t allow the brutal murder of Tyre Nichols by police officers to be simply another tragedy in a long line of tragedies. There must be justice. And there must be change,” stated Rep. Kathy Castor.

Rep. Lois Frankel said he was joining the chorus of Americans “who are calling for justice for his killing.”

Rep. Darren Soto called the beating “disgraceful and horrifying,” adding that the five Memphis officers “must face justice.”

The death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Memphis Police officers is disgraceful and horrifying. We extend our condolences to his family and loved ones. Those responsible must face justice. Congress must also continue to pursue public safety reforms,” stated Rep. Soto.

Former ESPN host Jemele Hill along with CNN’s Van Jones, echoed Frost’s accusation that the justice system was racist, and that black people were being used to “carry its water.”

“I need so many people to understand this regarding Tyre Nichols. Several of the police officers who murdered Freddie Gray were Black. The entire system of policing is based on white supremacist violence. We see people under the boot of oppression carry its water all the time,” stated Hill.

Florida Rev. Jordan Wells, who is also African-American, tweeted out a Tik Tok video denouncing Nichols’ murder, but also questioned by Black people continue to resist arrest and or “keep running from the police.”