Wesley (@WesleyLowery) / X

Wesley

1,973 posts

Wesley

@WesleyLowery

Journalist | Author | Correspondent [email protected]

Washington DC

Joined May 2008

Pinned
Wesley
@WesleyLowery
Apr 12
A year ago today, LSU’s star wideout Kyren Lacy took his own life, 2 weeks before the NFL draft. I’ve spent a few months with his friends and family, and reexamining the police records, to try to sort out the legal case he found himself ensnared in
He Was Headed to the NFL. Then A Tragic Accident Changed Everything.
From menshealth.com
167K
Wesley
@WesleyLowery
Jan 26, 2023
since this will come up a lot in media coverage of Tyre Nichols in Memphis: while I get that it seems narratively significant that the officers are black. Statistically, it is unsurprising. In tracking police violence, we never found that race of the officer made much difference
2.7M
Wesley
@WesleyLowery
Jan 27, 2023
I’m not sure what the right answer is, but there is something untoward/icky about the spectacle of counting down to the video release like this.
1.4M
Wesley
@WesleyLowery
Jan 28, 2023
Replying to @WesleyLowery
Why didn't Tyre Nichols comply? Why did he run? It appears clear that he was scared and did not trust these police officers with his life. Their actions, as captured on video, proved him right.
342K
Wesley
@WesleyLowery
Nov 3, 2025
MacKenzie's Scott is, literally, singlehandedly ensuring the ongoing existence of HBCUs in this country.
philip lewis
@Phil_Lewis_
Nov 3, 2025
MacKenzie Scott gifts $80 million to Howard University, marking one of the school’s largest donations in its 158-year history fortune.com/2025/11/03/mac…
255K
Wesley
@WesleyLowery
Jan 28, 2023
a few thoughts on the videos of Tyre Nichols' killing by Memphis police...
2.9M
Wesley
@WesleyLowery
Jan 28, 2023
Replying to @WesleyLowery
before the videos even begin: We're told this began with a traffic stop - why was he removed from the car? The officers involved were from so-called Scorpion squad. Any time you hear about a police "elite" squad it should raise suspicion -- these teams are often hotbeds of abuse
505K
Wesley
@WesleyLowery
Jan 28, 2023
Replying to @WesleyLowery
on that point: this squad was created as part of Memphis' response to rising violent crime in recent years, deploying what's known as "hot spot" policing -heavy enforcement on small groups of people. In this way, Nichols' death seems linked to our moment's reactionary politics
919K
Wesley
@WesleyLowery
Jan 28, 2023
Replying to @WesleyLowery
the greatest threat to the officers were their fellow officers -- at no point do we see Tyre Nichols harming any of the officers, however the officers managed to pepper spray themselves multiple times
367K
Wesley
@WesleyLowery
Jan 28, 2023
Replying to @WesleyLowery
What threat did Tyre Nichols present to these officers, to the public? How was the safety of the citizens of Memphis improved by the behavior of these officers on that night? How was the public served?
302K
Wesley
@WesleyLowery
Jan 28, 2023
Replying to @WesleyLowery
The value of the next body camera video is the audio. The video is often obscured. But the audio tells a story. As Tyre Nichols is on the ground dying, the officers are comparing their stories and settling on a narrative "he was going for your gun" etc etc "he must be on drugs"
348K
Wesley
@WesleyLowery
Jan 28, 2023
Replying to @WesleyLowery
At this point, Tyre Nichols does the only reasonable thing -- he runs from the people viciously attacking him. Police often talk about the "run tax" -- if you make them chase you, they're going to rough you up. One officer says this explicitly: "I hope they stomp his ass"
384K
Wesley
@WesleyLowery
Jul 23, 2024
the black political class hasn’t been this united and mobilized since 2012. the calls and group chats these last 48 hours have been…something else
520K
Wesley
@WesleyLowery
Jan 28, 2023
Replying to @WesleyLowery
body camera video begins with the officer wearing the camera immediately escalating. During the arrest, the officers shout contradictory commands (mixed in with verbal attacks) -- show us your hands as they're holding his hands, get on the ground as he's on already on the ground
333K