VP Harris addresses mourners at Tyre Nichols' funeral
Tyre Nichols died three days after the violent encounter with Memphis police.
Tyre Nichols' family gathered in Memphis, Tennessee, for his funeral, weeks after the 29-year-old died following a violent encounter with Memphis police caught on body camera.
Graphic footage of the Jan. 7 traffic stop, which showed officers beating Nichols, was released to the public on Friday and sparked nationwide outrage. Nichols, a young father who loved skateboarding, died on Jan. 10, after spending three days in a hospital.
Five officers involved in the incident have since been fired and charged with several felonies, including second-degree murder.
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Fellow grieving mom offers condolences
Tiffany Rachal, whose son, Jalen Randle, was shot and killed by an officer in Houston last year, said at Tyre Nichols’ funeral service, “I’m here to offer my condolence to you.”
“I pray that God heal your broken heart,” she said to Nichols' family. “We are fighting together. And all the mothers all over the world need to come together.”
Funeral delayed to 2 p.m. ET
Wednesday’s funeral has been delayed to 2 p.m. ET due to an ice storm in Memphis.
Memphis bridges to be lit up for Tyre Nichols
Two bridges in Memphis will be lit red and gold Wednesday night in honor of Tyre Nichols’ favorite football team, the San Francisco 49ers.
Vice President Harris to attend
Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Memphis, Tennessee, to attend Tyre Nichols' funeral.
Nichols family attorney Ben Crump said Nichols' parents spoke with Harris on the phone for over 30 minutes.
Harris and Nichols' mother, RowVaughn Wells, "spoke exclusively, and during this emotional time, the Vice President was able to console Ms. Wells and even help her smile," Crump said in a statement on Tuesday.
Principal deputy press secretary Olivia Dalton said Tuesday, "When President Biden spoke with Mr. Nichols’ families last week, he told them that he was going to be making the case to Congress to pass the George Floyd justice and policing act."
Dalton added the administration's usual caveat that Biden has basically maxed out his executive authorities on the issue, and that Congress needs to act to effect further change.
"President Biden is committed to doing everything in his power to ensure our criminal justice system lives up to the promise of fair and impartial justice, equal treatment and dignity for all,” she said.
“We need Congress to come together and take action to ensure our justice system lives up to its name," she added.
-ABC News’ Sarah Kolinovsky
Harris to family: 'You have been extraordinary'
Vice President Kamala Harris said to Tyre Nichols’ mother and stepfather, “You have been extraordinary in terms of your strength, your courage and your grace.”
“Mothers around the world, when their babies are born, pray to God when they hold that child, that that body and that life will be safe,” Harris said. “Yet we have a mother and a father who mourn the life of a young man who should be here today. They have a grandson who now does not have a father.”
Nichols died in an "act of violence at the hands and the feet of the people who have been charged with keeping them safe," she said. "This violent act was not in pursuit of public safety."
She said passing The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is "non-negotiable."