The rally was organized by Casey McMullen to demand justice for Tyre Nichols and coincided with the first day of Black History Month.

The rally also took place on the same day as Tyre Nichols’s funeral. Nichols was a 29-year-old Black man who was fatally beaten by Memphis police officers following a traffic stop on Jan. 7. Release surveillance video showed police continuously beat Nichols even after he was subdued. He died in a hospital from his injuries three days later.

The rally was held from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The rally was kept to an hour due to the cold weather. McMullen stayed for the full rally, saying a man died, and the least she could do was freeze.

MuMullen brought a homemade Black Lives Matter sign that was originally made for a different rally.

Staff photos by Clay Schuldt Casey McMullen (L), Cecilia Tojo Soler and Pat Booker bear the cold during Rally for Justice in response to the death of Tyre Nichols. The rally is demanding justice for Tyre Nichols during the start of Black History Month.

“It sad when you can use the same sign this many times,” she said.

McMullen has another BLM rally sign listing the names of other Black men like Nichols who were killed by police but said the sign is running out of room for more names.

McMullen was joined by Pat Booker, who also stayed through the rally despite an injured foot. Booker said Nichols death motivated her to attend the rally but also felt it was important to push for change.

“Change has got to be made,” Booker said “but it won’t happen unless we come out and demand it.”

McMullen said the change she hopes to see goes beyond an individual person. In this recent incident, the officers who beat Nichols were also Black, suggesting an institutionalized bias.

“This is about systemic change so that a Black life has the same value as a White one,” she said.

Several commuters passing through the intersection showed support, honking horns and waving to rally goers.

McMullen said if her presence and sign sparked one conversation with parent and child than the rally was worth it.