Justice Calls for Breonna Taylor as Her Killers Remain Free
Calls for justice intensifies as Breonna Taylor’s killers remain free. Breonna Taylor’s story and the push for her killers to be behind bars was once an important topic on social media, but as her killers remain free and charges have been dropped people have seemed to loose sight on the bigger picture. Whether its signing petitions, voting in November or reaching out to politicians we must not forget about Breonna Taylor because she needs justice and so does her family. Let’s keep pushing for change and not forget about what’s more important in today’s world even if we feel like progress isn’t being made right away. As long as we continue to fight, we will see change.
Imagine dying in the comfort of your own home, in the hands of police officers and over something that you did not do. This is what happened to Breonna Taylor.
On March 13, 2020 Breonna Taylor, a 26-year old African American emergency medical technician was shot by Louisville Metro Police Department officers Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankinson, and Myles Cosgrove.
The three officers, not in their uniform, entered Taylor’s house executing a no-knock search warrant.
Ms. Taylor and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker were in bed but got up, after hearing loud banging at the door. After a brief exchange, Mr. Walker fired his gun. The police also fired several shots, hitting Ms. Taylor.
Taylor coughed and struggled to breathe for at least five minutes after she was shot, according to The Louisville Courier Journal. She received no medical attention for more than 20 minutes after she was struck, The Courier Journal reported.
The police were investigating two men who they thought were selling drugs out of a house that was far from Ms. Taylor’s home. However, a judge had also signed a warrant allowing the police to search Ms. Taylor’s residence because the police believed that one of the two men had used her apartment to receive packages. The judge’s order was a so-called no-knock warrant, which allowed the police to enter without warning and without identifying themselves as law enforcement.
According to Mr. Walker’s lawyer, no drugs were found in the apartment. City officials banned the use of “no-knock” warrants on June 11.
Breonna Taylor’s death has sparked outrage around the world. There have been calls for justice. Her killers remain free and have not been charged with any crimes.
Taylor’s case took long to receive national attention and as weeks go by her story has dwindled. What first started off as a posting spree and call for media attention has now quickly turned into something that no one wants to talk about.
This could be because charges were dropped against the officers who took part in her killing, however her killers need to be held accountable and her family needs justice after this dreadful killing.
Ever since the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Rayshard Brooks, Elijah Mcclain, Breonna Taylor, Sha-Asia Washington and (the list goes on), Black people around the world have spoken up on racism, sexism, and systematic and institutionalized racism within the healthcare system.
We must do all that we can to make sure that Breonna Taylor’s killers don’t get to walk free again. Whether its signing petitions, voting in November, reading more information on her case, or also reaching out to politicians, we must make sure that our voices are being heard and that these officers are held accountable for their actions.
According to Ms. Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, Taylor had big dreams.
“Breonna had her head on straight, and she was a very decent person. She didn’t deserve this. She wasn’t that type of person.
Don’t forget to sign this petition.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/arrest-killers-breonna-taylor
Pictures are from:
1. bbc.com
2. vox.com
3. abc7ny.com
Report: Juana Norales
Instagram: @juana.n_
Megan Thee Stallion: Why Are Black Women Unprotected?
While people have shown concern for the rapper, others have taken the opportunity to make jokes about the incident. Within the last couple of months, the topic of how Black women are marginalized in society has become more prevalent.
Following the news of rapper Megan Thee Stallion getting shot, rumors and memes have been swirling around social media about what exactly happened. While people have shown concern for the rapper, others have taken the opportunity to make jokes about the incident. Within the last couple of months, the topic of how Black women are marginalized in society has become more prevalent.
Days removed from the shooting, Megan tweeted, “Black women are so unprotected & we hold so many things in to protect the feelings of others [without] considering our own. It might be funny to y’all on the internet and just another messy topic for you to talk about, but this is my real life and I’m real life hurt and traumatized.”
The lack of empathy and equity for Black women has been at an all time high; Megan’s situation is just a small piece of the puzzle. With Black women dying due to racial discrimination in the health care system and Breonna Taylor’s murderers still free, the question is: why do people still find it acceptable to disregard the trauma of Black women?
What happened to Megan wasn’t funny, just as what happened to George Floyd. When there were Tiktok videos that surfaced of people mimicking Floyd’s death, people were quick to take action and speak up about the wrongdoing. However, some of these same people are making light of Megan’s situation. Is this because Megan’s shooting wasn’t connected to racism?
Megan was right; Black women aren’t protected. Now that it is public knowledge that Taylor was alive six minutes after she was shot several times, and the police did not try to save her, you have to question why there hasn’t been any progress made toward justice.
In order to progress as a people, we have to start acknowledging all truths, even the truths that we may have negatively participated in.
Photo credits:
Megan Thee Stallion- Essence.com
Breonna Taylor- cbc.ca
Report: Brionna Taylor
At the rise of Covid-19 many of us first questioned the timeline of fashion week and would we see the regular calendar continue - the question weighed over many of us for months! It was refreshing to see design houses and designers across the globe take advantage of the uncertainty and plow into production mode - thus my interest in Jerri Reid New York - The Black Designer based in Brooklyn New York wow’d instagram with his latest collection paying homage to the Black Is King film which debuted earlier this year in July. I was taken aback at quick of a turn round the young designer produced and released his well crafted designs reflecting some of the films most memorable moments.