A lantern release honoring Tyre Nichols took place at Martyrs Park in Downtown Memphis Sunday, April 9, one day shy of the 90-day anniversary of his death. 

Twenty-nine paper lanterns alighted over the Mississippi River around the 7:30 p.m. sunset representing each year of Nichols’ life.

Twelve canvasses of his photography, many featuring sunsets, faced the crowd as they looked over the river. 

Strickland says DOJ investigation will show MPD culture

“The whole point is to see the world through his eyes,” said event organizer Beth Hoffberg. “We want people to think, ‘Tyre was here. I’m seeing what he was seeing. He was a person that mattered.’”

Nichols’ parents RowVaughn and Rodney Wells were also in attendance, along with approximately 30 local activists and community members.

Rodney Wells noted the special connection his son felt to Memphis, something which showed through his photography.

“My son expressed his feelings by skateboarding and taking pictures of sunsets,” Wells said. “He loved Sacramento, but he was falling in love with Memphis, too.”

The park was tranquil as visitors watched the bright afternoon slowly evolve into a scenic and glowing sunset. Hoffberg set a gentle tone by playing sound bowls as attendees spoke of and remembered Tyre.

After Tyre Nichols’ death, Memphis turns to tough-on-crime policies

Memphis activist L.J. Abraham spoke of her commitment to supporting Nichols’ family and legacy through continuing community efforts. 

“We want this to be a place of peace,” Abraham said. “We want everybody to know that he was loved tremendously, the city has embraced him, and the city has learned to love him. 

View Gallery

“This has to be a flow of love that we pour into Tyre Nichols.”

As the blue sky evolved into a backdrop of violet, orange and blue, men, women and children convened on the bank of the river to light the 29 lanterns.

The first lantern had a tear, and it took four individuals and three lighters to finally ignite it. Despite the tear, the lantern finally swelled, glowed and alighted into the sky. Attendees were slightly concerned as the second paper lantern floated into the top branches of a nearby tree. 

Tyre Nichols’ death inspires new county timeline for use of force investigations

And nearly as quickly as it hit the branches, a gust of wind pulled the lantern into the sky.

The soothing notes of the sound bowls emanated across the riverbank as the crowd grew more absorbed in the scenery of the floating, glowing lanterns. 

Sandra Brown Turner attended the lantern release with her husband. Turner has been active in the peace and justice movement in Memphis for over two decades.

Turner said the Nichols killing shocked her, particularly as a Memphian.

“When this happened in my city, a dam broke inside of me and in our society,” Turner said. “This should never have happened not anywhere, but in my city?”

Locally and nationally, new approaches seek to lessen confrontational traffic stops

Despite her shock and sadness, Turner is hopeful the spirit of events like the Easter Sunday lantern release will encourage remembrance of Nichols’ memory along with personal and communal resilience. 

“Especially on Easter where redemption is possible, where forgiveness and grace are what we all long for?” Turner said. “This heals, and I’m looking for healing.”

Hoffberg noted Martyrs Park was the ideal spot for the lantern release not only for its scenic beauty but its broader symbolism.

“The name is really fitting because Tyre is a martyr,” Hoffberg said. “We will find justice in this, and we will have police reform because of this. We’re not going to let his death be for nothing.”