Spiked Reports: Those blaming his death on white supremacy seem to think black cops are just mindless thugs.

Tyre Nichols is being laid to rest today. In Memphis, the family of 29-year-old Nichols will be joined by civil-rights luminaries and US vice-president Kamala Harris to mourn his loss at his funeral. His death earlier this month shocked the world. On 7 January, he had what turned out to be a deadly run-in with five police officers. He was pulled over, supposedly for reckless driving. He was then dragged out of his car and roughed up.

In the police bodycam footage of the encounter, released in recent days, Nichols can be heard shouting out, confused by the aggression of the officers. ‘I didn’t do anything’, he says. ‘You guys are really doing a lot right now.’ He managed to run away, but was apprehended a few minutes later. He was then beaten to a pulp – with fists, boots and batons.

Nichols succumbed to his injuries a few days later. The officers who did this to him have since been fired and charged with second-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and other offenses. There are so many questions that hang over this awful killing. It is difficult to grasp why a traffic stop involving five officers and one unarmed, skinny man apparently required so much violence and aggression. Some have suggested these men were never fit to serve in the first place.