The killing of Black Americans has been a public health and human rights crisis for a long time now. This violence spans decades. But it wasn’t until recently when the video of George Floyd’s death went viral that more Americans and people around the world finally understood and decided to support the Black Lives Matter movement. Floyd’s death was the tip of the iceberg. There have been countless deaths like his, one of which was the death of Breonna Taylor, who was murdered right in her own home by police.
Breonna Taylor was a 26-year-old emergency room technician who was laying in bed with her boyfriend after midnight on March 13th when police officers stormed into her home. They were investigating men selling drugs out of a home far from her home, but were also given a “no-knock warrant” to search Taylor’s residence because they believed one of the men may have received a package at her home once.
Under this warrant, they entered without warning and without identifying themselves as law enforcement. Anyone would be terrified. They didn’t know there were police officers in their home, so Taylor’s boyfriend shot at the leg of an officer (who is making a full recovery) and then the police unleashed gunfire. Taylor was shot eight times and died on the scene.
That was in early March and no charges have been brought in her murder.
As this petition states, “Like the war on drugs, “no-knock warrants” and SWAT raids have disproportionately and violently victimized Black people.” Breonna Taylor’s name needs to be said. Justice needs to be served. The men the police officers were investigated had already been arrested and no drugs were ever found in Taylor’s home.
The following officers: Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly, Detective Brett Hankison, and Detective Myles Cosgrove have all been placed on administrative duty, which means they are still being paid to work. Sign this petition urging Attorney General Daniel Cameron to charge Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly, Detective Brett Hankison, and Detective Myles Cosgrove with the murder of Breonna Taylor.
Please see this list of other actions you can take to stand against injustice:
1. Register to vote if you haven’t already. This is one of the simplest ways to make your voice heard as a citizen.
2. Donate to these organizations:
- Donate to Black Lives Matter here.
- Get involved with your local BLM chapter: The full list is here or start your own.
- Many protestors are getting arrested and being held. Donate to bail funds in your city, here or here.
- HBCUBuzz has a listing of lawyers and legal resources for protestors, organized by state.
- Resources and donations by the National Police Accountability Project.
- Learn about Campaign Zero, which works to end police violence in America.
- The New York Times has put together an anti-racist reading list.
- National Black Bailout Fund, which works towards ending systems of mass incarceration and freeing imprisoned black mothers.
- Visit Louisville Community Bail Fund to contribute towards bail for protesters in Louisville.
3. Sign these petitions:
- Justice for George Floyd
- Petition to end medical racism
- Justice for Breonna Taylor
- Justice for Ahmaud Arbery
- Justice for Tony McDade, Black trans man killed by police
- Sign the “Justice for George Floyd” petition on Change.org
- Color of Change launched a petition asking that all the officers involved in Floyd’s death are brought to justice.
Check out our founder’s article on #BlackLivesMatter: Killing Black Americans is a Public Health and Human Rights Crisis.
Police Brutality happens to both black and white people in South Africa. Americans arent the only people who are suffering under police brutality. Here in South Africa brutality is also black police against black people. So please dont generalise as if this is an American only thing.