The host of “The View” was devastated on Monday’s show after body cam footage of Tyra Nichols’ arrest was released Friday, showing the man brutally assaulted by multiple officers, ultimately leading to his death. As a result, moderator Whoopi Goldberg thought there would be a nationwide outcry if the victim was white.
For most of the episode, the hosts devoted their time to discussing Nichols and speaking with his family, the 29-year-old black man who was pulled over on Jan. 7 for what police claimed was reckless driving . In new video footage of his arrest, Nichols is seen talking calmly to the officers, whose unit has since been disbanded, only to escape on foot after being pepper sprayed and beaten by them first. Nichols died in hospital three days later.
Whoopi admitted that she could not bring herself to watch the brutal footage, and questioned how often such videos should be released so that true reform could be seen “from the grassroots”.
“Frankly, it doesn’t matter if it’s a white policeman or a black policeman, it’s a problem Police yourself, you know? Whoopi said. “It seems like things don’t matter to people unless it’s someone they can feel, or they can identify with. Need to see what happened?
The host immediately clarified that she was “not suggesting this should happen” or calling for violence of any kind. “I’m just asking: Is it going to get people to wake up and realize that this affects all of us?” he said.
Meanwhile, both co-hosts Sarah Haines and Alyssa Farah Griffin said they saw the video saying that, especially as white women, they felt it was important to do so and be aware of the brutality.
Farrah Griffin also offered her take on what viable police reform might look like, including a much stricter screening process for applicants, and sending mental health professionals to arrest scenes to mediate and deescalate.
When the conversation finally turned back to Whoopi, she admitted that she didn’t know what the exact solution might be, but she liked what Farrah Griffin was suggesting because “I’ve had it this far with this s “
“I’m sick of this. You It must be disturbing,” Whoopi said, prompting loud agreement from the audience. “Shall we? Then make sure that when you have the opportunity to make the necessary changes, make them! Don’t sit around and talk about them, let’s do something. ‘Cause it ain’t gonna stop until we stop it. It’s up to us.”
