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'He was a human being, he deserved due process, his life mattered' | Vigil held in downtown Cleveland for Tyre Nichols

'It's just important for me to come out and share a little bit of my story and support the family in Memphis, you know, we're tired'

CLEVELAND — A vigil was held in downtown Cleveland Saturday evening following the release of the shocking body cam footage from Memphis, Tennessee police showing the incident that led to the death of Tyre Nichols.

A crowd gathered by the free stamp on Lakeside Avenue, many who had their own stories to share about how circumstances around Nichols' death affected them. 

"It was a national call to all mothers when Tyre Nichols was calling for his mother, it was a national call around the nation to those who lost their loved ones, I lost my loved one Angelo Miller in 2007," Alicia Kirkman said.

Alicia Kirkman's son, Angelo Miller was shot and killed by a police officer in 2007.

"It's just important for me to come out and share a little bit of my story and support the family in Memphis, you know, we're tired " Emmanuel Franklin said.

Emanuel Franklin's son Desmond Franklin was shot and killed by an off-duty police officer three years ago.

Despite the exhaustion they feel from their own personal loss, and close connection to the Tyre Nichols case, they felt they had to be at tonight's rally to support his family.

"That he was a human being, that he deserved due process, that his life mattered, and that he should not have succumbed to what happened to him," Latonya Goldsby, President of Black Lives Matter Cleveland said.

And if a father who has lost his son could share a message with the Nichols family tonight, this is what Emanuel Franklin would say.

"I know your pain. I'm with you. My prayers are with you. You know there's a lot of love in Cleveland for y'all, and you know, it's going to be a long road, it's going to be hard, but just know there are other families out here that are standing by your side and praying for you," Franklin said.

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