Tadarrius Bean, one of the officers involved in Tyre Nichols’ brutal murder, was previously president of Omega Psi Psi’s Eta Zeta chapter in Mississippi. There have been scandals in the fraternity involving disturbing and harmful hazing rituals.
RELATED STORIES: Overnight: Mostly peaceful protests across the U.S. After The Release Of Tyre Nichols Video — Demonstrations In NYC Got A Little Intense
The fraternity has had its share of scandals, with pledging members hospitalized due to hazing rituals. According to the New York Post, Omega’s chapter at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, was suspended in 2019 due to several incidents involving pledges. Potential pledges were forced to drink hot sauce or pour it down their pants to imitate a sexually transmitted disease in some rituals.
Talk about being on the wrong side of history…We are 5 days from the 1st day of Black History Month…. #OmegaPsiPhi pic.twitter.com/BPxSzvgHRQ
— Bam (@AKing_named_Bam) January 28, 2023
Another case involved a 45-year-old man who wanted to join the Brooklyn chapter in 2018 and had his buttocks and genitals paddled 150 to 200 times as part of a ritual. Two members were charged with assault and hazing due to the incident.
RELATED STORIES: Lawyer Reveals Tyre Nichols’ Last Words — His Mother Begs Parents Not To Let Kids Watch Video Of Son’s Arrest, Beating
The news of Bean’s former life as a fraternity president has people questioning whether Tyre Nichol’s death tarnishes Omega Psi Psi’s reputation. Additionally, Omega Psi Psi did not release a statement condemning their members’ actions and involvement in Nichol’s brutal attack.
I’m sorry but why hasn’t Omega Psi Phi released a statement yet? Not “their responsibility” be damned 🤦🏾♂️
— DeNeiro Sanders (@Dsandz15) January 28, 2023
You mean to tell me members of a Black fraternity founded on “manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift” beat another Black man to death on video. @OfficialOPPF #OmegaPsiPhi #TyreNichols pic.twitter.com/DjVuSIPFxy
— Mario Boone, Jou. (@MarioBooneTV) January 28, 2023
One of the officers is a member of Omega Psi Phi with his bracelet all in the body cam who beat #TyreNichols you supposed to be helping you community not tearing it down. Omega Psi phi needs to be releasing a statement ASAP #OmegaPsiPhi
— Champ Nowell (@Luther_ryan9) January 28, 2023
You gave Omega Psi Phi a bad name tonight smh. How tf you wearing your bracelet why you doing shit like this smh. Snatch those letters NOW
— Angelica Pickles-Bryant-Harris-Neverson (@Nthe_FABlane) January 28, 2023
Omega Psi Psi was founded in 1911 at Howard University in Washington D.C. Currently,976da, China, Germany, Ghana, Hawaii, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Panama, St. Croix VI, St. Thomas VI, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.”
After the video of Nichols’ brutal assault was released, Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis called the act inhuman and said it was a moment that “defy humanity.”
“As we continue to try to build trust with our community, this is a very, very heavy cross to bear — not just for our department but for departments across the country,” she added. “Building trust is a day-by-day interaction between every traffic stop, every encounter with the community. We all have to be responsible for that and it’s going to be difficult in the days to come.”