Both topics have generated discussion-one around the symbolism of dates in high-profile events, and the other around nostalgia and band lineups in alternative rock.
On May 7, 2025, three former Memphis police officers-Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith-were acquitted of all state charges, including second-degree murder, in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man who died after a traffic stop in January 2023. The jury, mostly white and selected from outside Memphis, deliberated for about 8.5 hours following a nine-day trial before delivering the verdict.
The officers had previously faced federal charges, where they were acquitted of the most serious offenses but convicted of witness tampering. Two other officers involved had already pleaded guilty and testified against their former colleagues The incident and its aftermath sparked national outrage, widespread protests, and renewed calls for police reform.
There is no widely reported or official connection between the verdict date and any Martin Luther King Jr. tribute. The trial and its outcome, however, have reignited conversations about racial justice and police accountability in Memphis and across the U.S