(Scott Olson/Getty Images)
On Tuesday night, President Joe Biden will deliver the 2023 State of the Union address from the House Chamber in Washington, D.C. As steps to the podium at approximately 9 p.m. EST, he will look into the crowd and see a mix of political foes and allies. Mixed into the crowd, there will also be approximately two dozen special guests invited by the Biden administration. Among those invited to this year’s State of the Union address will be RowVaughn and Rodney Wells, the parents of Tyre Nichols.
In early January, Memphis Police Department Officer Preston Hemphill pulled Tyre Nichols out of his vehicle. After Nichols was moved out of the vehicle, five members of the city’s police force beat him for approximately three minutes and left him without medical attention for more than 20 minutes. The 29-year-old was eventually provided medical attention, but he ultimately passed away three days later. Hemphill and the five other officers were later fired. More recently, the five officers who beat the 29-year-old man for several minutes have been charged with second-degree murder.
“Like so many, I was outraged and deeply pained to see the horrific video of the beating that resulted in Tyre Nichols’ death. It is yet another painful reminder of the profound fear and trauma, the pain, and the exhaustion that Black and Brown Americans experience every single day,” President Joe Biden stated.
Additionally, Rep. Ilhan Omar has invited Andre Locke as her guest to the 2023 State of the Union address. In 2022, Locke’s son, Amir, was killed during the execution of a no-knock warrant in Minnesota.
“Thursday marked one year since Amir Locke was killed by Minneapolis Police Dept officers while executing a no-knock warrant,” Omar tweeted.
“Tomorrow, I will have Amir Locke’s father join me at the State of the Union as my guest and introduce the Amir Locke End Deadly No-Knock Warrants Act.”
