Activists, politicians, celebs react to minimal charges in Breonna Taylor case
None of the officers involved in the botched raid will be charged with her death
Though fired Louisville police officer Brett Hankison is being indicted on three counts of wanton endangerment of the first degree in the case of Breonna Taylor, most believe those charges are far from enough. A Jefferson County grand jury decided today to only charge one officer and not directly in Taylor’s death. She was killed in her home in March in a botched ‘no-knock’ raid.
Read More: Breonna Taylor grand jury indicts Brett Hankison on charges related to her death
Hankison failed to follow standard operating procedures, according to CNN, when he fired 10 rounds into Taylor’s apartment— where she and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were sleeping before police barged in, her lawyers allege, without announcing themselves. Hankison is one of the three officers involved in the raid and was fired in June, months after Taylor’s death.
After the announcement was made, supporters of Taylor went on social media to express their disappointment. Hankison is charged with wanton endangerment because he fired in an open area and endangered other lives.
The family attorney, Benjamin Crump, said in a now-deleted tweet captured by CNN that the decision is not “what we wanted.”
“Jefferson County grand jury indicts former ofc. Brett Hankison Breonna Taylor’s death, with 3 counts of Wanton Endangerment in 1st Degree! We urge @kyoag to accept this recommendation ASAP. While not fully what we wanted, this brings us closer to…”
None of the officers will be officially charged with Taylor’s death.
In another Tweet by Crump, the attorney said:
“Jefferson County Grand Jury indicts former ofc. Brett Hankison with 3 counts of Wanton Endangerment in 1st Degree for bullets that went into other apartments but NOTHING for the murder of Breonna Taylor. This is outrageous and offensive!”
Jefferson County Grand Jury indicts former ofc. Brett Hankison with 3 counts of Wanton Endangerment in 1st Degree for bullets that went into other apartments but NOTHING for the murder of Breonna Taylor. This is outrageous and offensive! pic.twitter.com/EarmBAhhuf
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) September 23, 2020
Activist Shaun King shared his dismay:
NO. NO. NO.
You cannot say, @kyoag, that the shooting of Breonna Taylor was in self-defense.
She caused NO HARM to the officers whatsoever.
She was not a danger to the officers at all.
She was unarmed.
Laws of self-defense do not apply here.
AT ALL.— Shaun King (@shaunking) September 23, 2020
If Person A poses a grave danger to Police Officers A, B,C, the police do not then have the legal right to shoot and kill person B, who posed no danger whatsoever to the police.
It's this simple.
This is the law.
The officers HAD NO RIGHT to shoot & kill Breonna.
NONE.— Shaun King (@shaunking) September 23, 2020
Derrick Johnson, the CEO of the NAACP, fired off this tweet calling the grand jury’s decision it a “national disgrace.”
Today's decision to only indict 1 officer with 3 counts of 1st degree wanton endangerment is a national disgrace. We must take this anger to the polls and vote. If you've already voted, get your friends to vote. The only way to change the system is to overwhelm it. #BreonnaTaylor
— Derrick Johnson (@DerrickNAACP) September 23, 2020
“Today’s decision to only indict 1 officer with 3 counts of 1st-degree wanton endangerment is a national disgrace. We must take this anger to the polls and vote. If you’ve already voted, get your friends to vote. The only way to change the system is to overwhelm it. #BreonnaTaylor“
Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar says the lack of charges proves that property is valued more than Black lives.
Once again, the law says that property is more valuable than Black life.
We cannot let up in our fight for justice for Breonna Taylor and every Black and brown person murdered at the hands of police. We will fight to end qualified immunity. https://t.co/JeHOP3GEVG— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) September 23, 2020
Scholar and activist Marc Lamont Hill reminded people that voices inside the community in Louisville matter and that those voices need to be heard.
I’m listening to the people INSIDE Kentucky. They know this is bullshit. They knew Cameron has no interest in justice. They know the truth. https://t.co/IhgPkwT2At
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) September 23, 2020
The official account of the Women’s March had this to say.
Accountability for shooting into other apartments, but no accountability for killing Breonna Taylor in her own home.
Enough. There can be no justice in a system that devalues Black lives like Breonna's, that kills us without consequence.
It cannot be reformed. https://t.co/tIXMTwGRXc— Women's March – Text WOMENSWAVE to 44310 (@womensmarch) September 23, 2020
CNN host W. Kamau Bell called the charges or lack thereof ‘”systemic racism.”
Brett Hankison is indicted for shooting into the apartment NEXT to Breonna Taylor & not for KILLING HER.
He's fired for shooting into BREONNA TAYLOR'S apartment & not for KILLING HER.
This is systemic racism.
Property is worth more than a Black woman. https://t.co/abVLkTqg1s pic.twitter.com/CwflSjR42h— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) September 23, 2020
Joy Reid shared her disappointment by encouraging folks to create change by voting.
Stop expecting justice from this system. Vote in better political leaders and change the system. As it stands now, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is not held even close to equally by every American. The only way to change that is to change who governs us.
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) September 23, 2020
Journalist and activist Jemele Hill said the charges indicated a lack of compassion for Taylor’s life. She was the only fatality in the raid.
The state of Kentucky deemed the lives of Breonna Taylor’s neighbors to be worth more than her own. Let that sink in.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 23, 2020
Celebs upset by the minimal charges weighed in as well.
It’s all kind of numbing. On one hand it’s like I KNOW I’m not crazy there’s a real problem in our country. On the other I’m sad that everyone doesn’t see it and some don’t want to. Of course I know God is at work. It’s just tough to process it all. #BreonnaTaylor https://t.co/b1ALKdkRS3
— Lecrae (@lecrae) September 23, 2020
"To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a state of rage almost all of the time." James Baldwin. #BreonnaTaylor pic.twitter.com/CUcRcEsXCE
— COMMON (@common) September 23, 2020
Daniel Cameron is on Donald Trump’s short list as replacement of #RGB on the Supreme Court. The same man who decided to not charge the officers responsible for killing #BreonnaTaylor. Vote.
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) September 23, 2020
The Louisville Metro Police Department issued a state of emergency, putting the city on alert prior to the decision being announced due to the ongoing protests in support of Taylor. Demonstrations in Louisville are already beginning.
Taylor’s family received a $12M civil settlement in her case that also included a provision for police reforms.
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