NLE Choppa is carrying on the skateboarding spirit of Tyre Nichols with a new foundation to support his family.
The “Skate for Tyre” foundation will raise money to benefit Nichols’ four-year-old son, as well as youth initiatives. On Saturday, January 28th, the rapper and herbalist held a peaceful protest and community skate in Memphis to honor the father, who was brutally beaten to death by police officers in early January. Nichols was an aspiring photographer who enjoyed skating for years. NLE Choppa wants to ensure his legacy lives on while getting more people involved in the therapeutic sport.
In a video shared ahead of the march, NLE Choppa invited all members of the community to grab their boards and join him. The 20-year-old revealed he recently got into the sport, thanks in part to Lil Wayne. NLE Choppa hopes to use it as a way to remember the man who has touched so many lives. As they all marched, protesters, which included LYE Academy students, shouted “Skate for Tyre” while NLE Choppa hopped on the board to lead the crowd. During a brief pause, the Memphis native thanked those who attended the rally, admitting he was disheartened that it took a tragedy to bring people together.
Protests continue to take place in Memphis and across the country as people demand justice for Nichols’, who was beaten by five officers on January 7th, despite him being unarmed. He died three days later.
