Breonna Taylor was killed a year ago. Now, protests are on. What happened to her?
Demonstrators in the US demanded justice and police reforms on Saturday as they marched on the one-year anniversary of the death of Breonna Taylor, a young Black woman mistakenly shot and killed by officers during a raid of her apartment. Why are people protesting? What really happened to her? Read to find out
What did the courts do?
A grand jury in September recommended no homicide charges against the three white officers in the case. One of the officers, Brett Hankison, was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment for firing into a neighbor’s apartment, and a juror said later those charges were the only ones brought to the grand jury by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron. Hankison and two other officers were fired by the police department.
(Photograph:Reuters)
‘No justice, no peace’
On Saturday, Taylor's mother Tamika Palmer led hundreds marching behind a large purple banner with an illustration of Taylor's face, chanting "No justice, no peace," and chanting "Black lives matter" and "no justice, no peace" while waving signs showing Taylor`s face.
(Photograph:AFP)
‘Outrageous’ laxity
Twelve months after the killing in which police shot Taylor while looking for a former friend of hers only one of three police officers has been charged, and only for endangering Taylor's neighbours by firing wildly. The failure to press homicide charges a decision denounced as "outrageous" by Taylor's family sparked sporadic violence in Louisville last September.
(Photograph:AFP)
Biden extends support for reforms
President Joe Biden on Saturday declared his support for reforms. "Breonna Taylor's death was a tragedy, a blow to her family, her community, and America," he tweeted. "As we continue to mourn her, we must press ahead to pass meaningful police reform in Congress. I remain committed to signing a landmark reform bill into law." Louisville Mayor Greg Fisher said his city has made significant reforms in policies and priorities, but that there was still "a good deal of work ahead."
(Photograph:AFP)
