Supply: The Washington Publish / Getty
UPDATED: 5:00 p.m. March 13, 2024
Breonna Taylor is greater than a hashtag. 4 years after Louisville Metro Police killed Breonna, her dying remains to be powerful to course of.
Breonna deserved higher from authorities in Louisville and the state of Kentucky as a complete. Kentucky Lawyer Basic Daniel Cameron made a mockery of accountability.
MORE: Breonna Taylor Civil Rights Case: A Timeline Of Events In The Trial
State leaders are apparently lastly attempting to vary that now, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal:
Republican Sen. Rand Paul and Democratic Rep. Morgan McGarvey introduced Monday they plan to file payments within the Senate and Home of Representatives that will ban no-knock warrants just like the one utilized by LMPD within the raid at Taylor’s condo within the early morning hours of March 13, 2020.
Whereas enacting such laws could be a serious game-changer for the system that allowed Taylor to be killed with none law enforcement officials being held accountable for the dying.
In simply the final 12 months alone, one of many officers concerned with Taylor’s killing has gone on to get hired as a cop in Kentucky earlier than he went on to display even more gun violence on his new job.
Whereas Louisville did hire its first Black woman police chief, the choice course of was held in secrecy — a transfer that violated town’s vow for transparency.
One of many few silver linings to this tragic episode has been Cameron’s failed gubernatorial bid final 12 months as Kentucky voters rebuked his candidacy. A more in-depth take a look at the election’s exit polling data means that voters in Jefferson County possible haven’t forgotten Cameron’s position following the notorious botched no-knock warrant raid that led to Taylor being killed.
And one other officer concerned in Taylor’s killing is presently going through his third trial from the lethal botched no-knock warrant.
Former officer Brett Hankison had been acquitted of state prices of reckless habits associated to Taylor’s dying. With a petition signed by 18,000 folks, Tamika Palmer that day in 2022 requested senior Justice officers whether or not there was something extra they may do.
The Justice Division in the end charged Hankison, who fired his gun within the police raid that killed Taylor however didn’t strike anybody, with federal civil rights violations. A federal jury deadlocked on these prices, leading to a mistrial.
Now, almost 4 years after Taylor’s killing, federal officers are taking the extraordinary step of inserting Hankison earlier than a jury for a 3rd time. The transfer factors to polarizing questions concerning what quantities to justice within the killing of a Black girl throughout a raid at her residence that helped spark nationwide social justice protests. Amongst these questions: whether or not the federal authorities’s push for accountability shall be achieved by attempting to convict this former officer.
In the meantime, Taylor’s life was being celebrated on social media by leaders who stay combating for systemic change.
“4 years in the past, Breonna Taylor was unjustly killed in her residence by Louisville police,” civil rights lawyer Ben Crump posted Wednesday on X, previously Twitter. “Sending my prayers to her household and group as they proceed to struggle for accountability and laws to stop one other tragic killing. We’ll NEVER overlook your story, Bre!! Relaxation In Energy.”
Nina Turner reminded her followers about Breonna Taylor that “For 1,460 days, her killers have walked free. We is not going to overlook.”
Georgia Congresswoman Lucy McBath, whose teenage son Jordan Davis was killed by a white man over a dispute about loud music in a so-called “Strand Your Floor” case, inspired folks to recollect Breonna Taylor’s legacy and “Honor her life with motion.”
Sometime we are going to cease anticipating Black households and communities to make do with commemorations and permit Black girls, males and youngsters to develop outdated gracefully.
Permitting issues to proceed enterprise as standard and allowing the system to create extra Breonnas undermines her legacy and all that individuals declare she represents for them. To cite the Motion for Black Lives, “the entire rattling system is chargeable for Breonna’s dying. The time is now to rework it.”
SEE ALSO:
Cop Who Killed Breonna Taylor Involved In New Incident Pointing Gun At Civilians
Fired Cop Who Shot Breonna Taylor Hired As Deputy In Kentucky
