Breonna Taylor rally demands justice on first anniversary of her death
Breonna Taylor family has continued its call for justice as hundreds of demonstrators gathered in downtown Louisville to mark the one year anniversary of her death.
“Eyes are on Louisville, Kentucky, today so let’s show America what community looks like,” said Taylor’s aunt, Bianca Austin, who wore her niece’s emergency medical technician jacket.
Austin spoke from a stage set up in Jefferson Square Park, which became an impromptu hub for protesters during months of demonstrations last summer. Flanked by two handpainted murals of Taylor, activists repeated calls to charge the police officers who killed the Black woman during a raid at her apartment.
The crowd shouted Taylor’s name and “No justice, no peace” as they gathered near an outdoor memorial that included a mural, posters, artwork and other mementoes honouring Taylor’s life.
Taylor’s family then led the protesters on an afternoon march past City
Hall.
There were protests over Taylor’s killing in several US cities. Late Saturday dozens of protesters clashed with Los Angeles police in Hollywood, the LA Times reported.
Taylor’s front door was breached by Louisville officers as part of a drug raid in the early morning hours of 13 March 2020. Her boyfriend fired his gun once, saying later that he feared an intruder was entering the apartment. One officer was struck, and he and two other officers fired 32 shots into the apartment, striking Taylor five times.
A grand jury indicted one officer on wanton endangerment charges in September for shooting into a neighbour’s apartment, but no officers were charged in connection with Taylor’s death.
Police had a no-knock warrant but said they knocked and announced their presence before entering Taylor’s apartment, a claim some witnesses have disputed. No drugs were found in Taylor’s apartment.
An ongoing federal investigation could be wide ranging and is regarded by many as the last chance for justice for Taylor’s death.