Breonna Taylor’s Death Sparked Change, But Not Enough

CONTENT WARNINGS: mentions of violence

On March 13, 2020, an innocent woman was murdered by a force intended to protect. Plainclothes police officers raided her apartment without warning as part of a drug investigation, despite having little evidence that Breonna Taylor was directly involved and already knowing the location of the main suspect. Her boyfriend thought the officers were intruders because they did not clearly announce themselves so he fired a warning shot at the door. In response, the officers fired 32 shots, six of which fatally hit Taylor. The case of Breonna Taylor forced the people in America to wake up. They were angry, they were furious, they were heartbroken, and they demanded change. 

On September 23, 2020, the Louisville Grand Jury charged Brett Hankinson, the man who murdered Breonna Taylor, with wanton endangerment. He was not charged for murder; he was not charged for breaking into someone’s home unannounced. Racism is so ingrained into our country that police can barge into homes, murder innocent civilians, and leave clean-handed. Breonna Taylor’s death is all too common: police murdering people of color and escaping with few if any charges. 

September 23, 2020, left the world in shock. Protesters lined the streets with posters chanting, “Say her name.” They shouted “ACAB” and “Defund the police!” as cars passed by. Angry Americans knelt at the national anthem. They donated to nonprofits. Finally, they educated themselves. Listening to each other’s stories, struggles, and pain, they have found hope in change. Every time another life is lost, they mourn. They promise they will not forget. They promise they will say her name. They promise they can build a better future, they promise they can find a way, even if they don’t know where to start. They take baby steps. But they know it will never be enough. They know George Floyd, Atatiana Jefferson, Aura Rosser, Stephon Clark, Elijah McClain, Breonna Taylor, and so many more will never get the justice they deserve until the system is changed. The country is more aware of the injustices the laws allow, but little has actually changed. Each of us can contribute to a better future, but we must all be proactive in our community and expect better from each other.

by ANONYMOUS