John,

The cold-blooded killing of Tyre Nichols by Memphis police officers is a devastating reminder of how broken this injustice system is. Like Summer Lee recently said, “it’s painful every single time,” because Tyre’s life mattered, and this never should have happened.

Video footage, training, and pretty words about police reform didn’t stop this murder, and they won’t prevent police from murdering again. We know that the culture of policing in America is what allows police to kill with impunity, and the policies our lawmakers set enable them to keep doing so. We need leaders who are willing to go up against the criminal injustice system — people like Cori Bush and Summer Lee.

But we also know that it’s the job of elected leaders to always stand hand in hand with the community on the ground. So today, we wanted to make sure you had a way to support Tyre Nichols’ family right now.

Tyre Nichols’ parents are fundraising to support themselves while taking time off work — time their work doesn’t provide. They’re looking to cover the costs of Tyre’s funeral and more, and hoping to gather enough funds to build a skateboard park memorializing his life.

There are many critical ways to engage right now, but if you have the means, we are encouraging our supporters to contribute what you can to the GoFundMe organized by Tyre’s mother.

[Warning: Image heading fundraiser page is graphic.]

In solidarity,

Justice Democrats

Do not worry if you cannot afford to make a contribution — we understand that this is a difficult time. If you’re struggling, you can find a food bank here. We appreciate everything you do to keep our movement strong. Please stay informed and follow the most up-to-date recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and your state public health department.