As video footage of Tyre Nichols’ fatal encounter with Memphis Police officers was released by the city, protesters and activists began marching from Martyrs Park in Downtown Memphis, closing access to the I-55 bridge.

Video of brutal police beating of Tyre Nichols released

The Daily Memphian had multiple reporters on the scene and reported live throughout the event.

By about 6:30 p.m., hundreds of protesters began marching on the bridge and effectively blocked it down, preventing westbound traffic from moving out of and eastbound traffic from moving into Downtown Memphis' south end.

As the group blocked I-55 bridge traffic, chants rang out: “Whose bridge? Our bridge,” and “They’re taking our lives. We’re taking their money.”

A line of cars and semitrailers largely refrained from honking, as drivers appeared to be waiting patiently.

Law enforcement officers were present in the distance but not immediately in the area around the protesters.

At 8:10 p.m. demonstrators still controlled the bridge. “We’re not leaving until they call us back,” protestors said about Mayor Jim Strickland.

The absence of law enforcement on the bridge Friday was a major shift in police strategy from almost three years ago during local protests over the George Floyd incident. At that time, protesters attempting to shut down the Interstate 55 bridge were met by a wall of Sheriff’s deputies and Memphis police.

Chants of “Say his name, Tyre Nichols” rang out from the group as they marched toward the bridge on the south end of Downtown.

Traffic along the I-40 Hernando DeSoto bridge, on Downtown’s north end, was flowing without issue. Police officers were stationed at the bridge’s ramps.

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Jasmine Johnson was driving back into Memphis when she was stopped by protestors. Rather than stay in her car, Johnson got out and joined them. “We can’t move, but it’s for a good cause,” she said.

Many businesses from Beale Street stretching north to A. W. Willis Avenue were closed, and that end of Downtown was largely empty of a typical Friday night’s activity.

The crowd also was calling for the end of the Memphis Police Department’s special units, such as the SCORPION unit the officers charged in Nichols' death were a part of.

Protests were also happening across the U.S., including New York, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Asheville, North Carolina.

By 8:30 p.m., traffic was blocked from Downtown south to Elvis Presley Boulevard and I-240. Multiple drones and helicopters were also seen above the group of protesters.

The historic Beale Street entertainment district was still business as usual with the International Blues Challenge underway through Saturday, Jan. 28. 

Ricky Brotherton from Wichita, Kansas, was in Memphis for the blues festival. He said Thursday night, Jan. 26, was “elbow to elbow” on Beale while Friday night’s crowd was much smaller. He was unaware of the protest, but was sorry more locals weren’t around to see all of the talented blues acts.

“It’s been worth the price of admission,” Brotherton said.

Jesse Deledda, 28, and Leya Lomans, 26, of the band Barn & Bell were representing the Netherlands at the blues challenge. The duo said they didn’t notice a difference in the crowd Friday evening. “You don’t really notice the protest on Beale,” Deledda said.

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It was the musicians' first time in Memphis and the U.S. They said protests surrounding police and civil unrest are less common in the Netherlands but admitted their focus was on the result of their semifinals performance for best blues duo.

By 10 p.m., traffic was moving again on I-55. Some protesters returned to Martyrs Park.

“I know that video was tough to watch,” a protest organizer was heard saying, “but let this not be the last night.”

Daily Memphian reporters Julia Baker, Bill Dries, Aarron Fleming, Rob Moore, Neil Strebig and Ben Wheeler contributed to this story.