Breonna Taylor Protest for Justice Leads to 7 People Shot by Police
Our country is rising against racism and police brutality — and it’s happening during a pandemic
Photo: Instagram/ @arielsinhaha
Our country is rising against racism and police brutality — and it’s happening during a pandemic. While thousands protested in Minneapolis, New York City, and California for the murder of George Floyd, the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor is not forgotten.
Last night, protesters took to the streets in Louisville, Kentucky, for the death of 26-year-old Taylor, who was shot by police on March 13 as she lay in bed. The shooting occurred in the middle of the night as Taylor slept next to her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker. According to reports, police entered the apartment with a “no-knock” search warrant in connection to alleged drug distribution. Yesterday, the 911 call that Walker made was released. Walker said, “Somebody kicked in the door and shot my girlfriend.”
Officials initially charged Walker for shooting a police officer in the leg. However, those charges have been dismissed. Walker said he fired the weapon in self-defense.
I urge protesters, as Breonna Taylor’s family said tonight, to say her name. But let’s not see anyone else get hurt. Let’s work together for peace, justice & for Breonna & all of Louisville. pic.twitter.com/RHyMgUV073
— Greg Fischer (@GregFischerLou) May 29, 2020
According to the New York Times, seven people were shot by police during yesterday’s protest in Louisville. Two of those people were taken in for surgery, and the other five were listed in good condition.
“I feel the community’s frustration, the anger, the fear, but tonight’s violence and destruction is not the way to solve it,” Mr. Fischer said.
Taylor’s sister, Juniyah Palmer, also addressed the protesters on Facebook and wrote, “Do not succumb to the levels that we see out of the police,” she wrote. “Speak. Protest. But do not resort to violence.”
“We are so grateful for everyone giving Bre a voice tonight, for saying her name, for demanding truth, for demanding justice and for demanding accountability,” Palmer wrote. “Please keep demanding this. But please keep it peaceful. Do not succumb to the levels that we see out of the police. Speak. Protest. But do not resort to violence. We demand change. We demand reform. But we do not need for our community to get hurt. We need for our community to get justice. Thank you all so very much.”
Walker’s attorney, Sam Aguiar, released this statement over his client’s 911 call. “This call is one of the hardest things I’ve ever listened to,” Aguiar said in a statement Thursday, according to CNN. “Kenneth Walker is a great man. He stayed by Breonna’s side. He lost the love of his life and then went to jail after doing everything right. He had no idea who had broken into the home and fired shots. My heart is bleeding for him and his family.”
CNN reports that the FBI is investigating the death of Taylor as well as the death of Floyd.
