Skaters honor Tyre Nichols as city leaders say they’ll rename Regency skate park in his honor

Jacqueline Pinedo
·2 min read

Chairs lined the skate ramp and the back of Sac Ramp Skate shop on Saturday afternoon for a memorial and celebration of life of Tyre Nichols.

Family and friends spoke at the event to express fond memories they shared with Nichols and to remember the 29-year-old’s positive attitude on life. At the memorial, Councilwoman Lisa Kaplan, who represents North Natomas, announced that the city would rename Regency Community Skate Park in Nichols’ honor.

“On behalf of myself and in partnership with the family and Mayor (Darrell) Steinberg,” Kaplan said at the memorial. “That is going to be the Tyre Nichols Skate Park.”

Kaplan was joined at the south Sacramento skate shop by other community leaders including Steinberg and Greater Sacramento NAACP President Betty Williams, who lauded that the “community of Sacramento came together” for Tyre.

“I’m loving the fact that this event is highlighting all of that and reminding people that we can speak together as one with one voice,” Williams said. “So that’s the importance if you get nothing else, know that he’s the man that Sacramento has come together to celebrate his life.”

Nichols, who had recently moved to Tennessee from Sacramento, was brutally beaten to death by five Memphis Police Department officers following a traffic stop on Jan. 7. He later died on Jan. 10 from severe injuries.

Latoya Yizar, Nichols’ godsister, said Regency Community State Park was where her brother started skating with his friends.

Austin Robert was a friend of Nichols for 15 years and grew up skating with him at Regency. He was happy to hear the news of the skate park being renamed.

“Tyre made that park,” Robert said. “We used to just go there and just free our minds. To, you know, get away from normal stuff that’s going on and be able to take it all out on a skateboard.”

During the memorial, Robert and a group of friends who skated with Nichols growing up shared stories about their time at the skate park, and the videos they would record.

“Without you guys we really wouldn’t know a different side of Tyre,” Yizar said on the memorial stage. “Because you are different with your friends then you are with your siblings. So we appreciate all the stories.”

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Prayer ban head criticises Braverman for using school as ‘political football’

    The Conservative MP co-founded the school alongside current headteacher Katherine Birbalsingh.

  • Nike to lay off 740 employees at Oregon headquarters

    The "second phase of impacts" would begin by June 28 at its headquarters, Michele Adams, Nike's vice president for people solutions, said in a legally mandated notice to state authorities. Nike had in December announced a cost savings plan for $2 billion over the next three years, and in February said it would cut about 2% of its total workforce, or more than 1,600 roles. It had about 83,700 employees as of May 31, 2023.

  • The 30 best Walmart deals to shop this weekend — save up to 80% on outdoor gear, gardening supplies, tech and more

    Some major deals on board: a Mother's Day-ready digital picture frame for $30 off, a cordless 6-in-1 stick vac for just $90, and a Chromebook laptop for under $150.

  • Fun things to do across the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast this weekend

    Fun things to do across the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast this weekend

  • Disability expert resigns from federal advisory group over benefit program

    OTTAWA — One of Canada's leading disability scholars is quitting a federal advisory board, saying the government failed to properly fund the disability benefit. Michael Prince, a professor of social policy at the University of Victoria, says he's deeply disappointed with the Canada Disability Benefit. He's resigning from Disabilities Minister Kamal Khera's advisory group effective immediately, saying he has concluded his voice is no longer making a difference. Prince says the amount of funding f

  • Togo lawmakers give final approval to new constitution amid opposition fears

    Togo lawmakers on Friday gave final approval to a constitutional reform that switches to a parliamentary system that triggered criticism from opposition parties who say it allows President Faure Gnassingbe to keep a grip on power. The approval came days before April 29 legislative elections in Togo, where the opposition dismissed the reform as a "constitutional coup" for creating a new prime minister-style post they say will allow the Togolese leader to avoid term limits to stay in office.Togo's

  • Netflix Stock Tumbles On Soft Guidance, Reduced Disclosure

    Netflix stock plunged after the streaming video leader said it would stop giving quarterly subscriber numbers next year.

  • Rangers option rookie Jack Leiter 1 day after he allowed 7 runs in his major league debut

    ATLANTA (AP) — Texas Rangers rookie right-hander Jack Leiter was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday, one day after allowing seven runs in his major league debut. The Rangers recalled right-hander Owen White from Round Rock to provide bullpen depth for the start of their weekend series against the Atlanta Braves. Leiter, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft, allowed seven runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings in Thursday's 9-7 win at the Detroit Tigers. He walked three and struck out thr

  • Prosecutor won't bring charges against Wisconsin lawmaker over fundraising scheme

    MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin prosecutor said Friday that she won't bring charges against a Republican lawmaker accused of trying to evade state campaign finance laws in order to unseat the powerful speaker of the Assembly. Waukesha County District Attorney Susan Opper said she would not be filing felony charges against Rep. Janel Brandtjen as was recommended by the bipartisan Wisconsin Ethics Commission. She is the fourth county prosecutor to decide against filing charges against former Pres

  • Dollar stores closing across Ohio

    Dozens of Family Dollar and Dollar Tree locations are set to close across Ohio this week.

  • How Rich Are Biden, Trump and These Other Potential 2024 Presidential Candidates?

    With the 2024 presidential election months away, on November 5, 2024, candidates have been dropping out of the race until just a handful of hopefuls remain. The U.S. president earns $400,000 a year,...

  • Eighty firefighters called to blaze at listed London pub

    Eighty firefighters and 12 fire engines were called following a blaze at a listed pub in south-west London.

  • Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial identified as ‘researcher’ who posted conspiracy-laden manifesto moments earlier

    The NYPD identified the man as Maxwell Azzarello, 37, who is now in critical condition in Cornell burns unit. He has a long history of posting conspiracy theories and railing against the rich and powerful

  • Why less snow is threatening Japan's expensive Kanzuri chile paste

    Kanzuri is a traditional fermented chile paste that is exclusively produced in Myoko in Japan's Niigata Prefecture by the Tojo family. Before the family started selling the condiment in 1966, it was only made in small batches for household use. Today, a six-year-aged 2.5-ounce bottle sells for almost $20.

  • John Adams' Nativity oratorio 'El Nino' gets colorful staging at the Met

    NEW YORK (AP) — The children crumple and fall to the stage, victims of King Herod’s assassins. Then the Virgin Mary, in a voice brimming with anguish and outrage, memorializes the student protesters who were massacred by Mexican armed forces in 1968. This is “El Nino,” a retelling of the birth and early life of Jesus through a mix of biblical verses and modern Latin American poetry, medieval texts and apocrypha. Set to music by John Adams from a libretto compiled by him and Peter Sellars, it is

  • Warren 8-year-old in critical after shooting himself with unsecured weapon

    Warren police say an 8-year-old child is in critical condition after shooting himself in the face with what may have been an unsecured gun.

  • Chad air force chief orders US to halt activities at army base, letter shows

    Chad has so far not followed the steps of juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in ending military collaborations with France and other traditional Western allies while they strengthen ties with Russia instead. In the letter dated April 4 to Chad's minister of armed forces, Air Force Chief of Staff Idriss Amine Ahmed said he had told the U.S. defence attache to halt U.S. activities at the Adji Kossei Air Base after “Americans” had failed to provide documents justifying their presence there.

  • China's lithium demand is 'unstoppable': Sigma Lithium CEO

    Lithium is a core component that goes into the construction of EV battery systems, but as electric vehicle demand falters in the US, do lithium mining operators forecast any production slowdowns on their end? Sigma Lithium (SGML) CEO Ana Cabral sits down with Market Domination in-studio to talk about the lithium producer's international business. Cabral notes China's "unstoppable" demand for lithium as the nation's automakers, among other industries, lean into electrification strategies faster than other international manufacturers.  China's lithium demand "has been growing double-digits, China just grew 5.3% just recently... electrification in China is a survival of big cities, let's say secular teases. It's a very different drive than here," Cabral says. "50% of all new cars are all expected to be electric in China in about a year... there are green plates everywhere. It's a combination of regulatory with the need to keep cities livable." For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Market Domination. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.

  • 'Sullivan's Crossing' star Chad Michael Murray reveals why Nova Scotia set reminds him of 'One Tree Hill'

    Chad Michael Murray revealed there's something special about CTV's Sullivan's Crossing that he hasn't felt since Once Tree Hill.

  • I'm a home product tester — and I did a double-take when I saw these chic patio chairs on sale for $37 each

    Outdoor furniture can be ridiculously expensive, but this 'sturdy and beautiful' rattan set won't break the bank.