Protests around the country have been held in response to the terrible Breonna Taylor murder case, with calls for police reform in the American legal system.
A national outcry demanding police reform was triggered by the March 2020 murder of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, by police personnel. During a police no-knock warrant raid, the 26-year-old African-American EMT was shot many times while she slept in her apartment.
Taylor’s tragic murder brought to light long-standing problems with racism in the legal system, police violence, and the demand for accountability. Two years later, while investigations and trials go on, the case continues to make headlines.
Public indignation over the case led to demonstrations in the streets, where demonstrators called for Taylor’s justice and the cops’ accountability.
Case of Breonna Taylor Murder: Police Officer Shot and Died
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Breonna Taylor’s murder case has come to represent the institutionalized racism and police violence that afflict the American legal system.
Early on March 13, 2020, Breonna Taylor’s flat was raided by plainclothes police officers. The police were carrying out a no-knock warrant, which gave them permission to enter the building covertly.
There was a knock on the door when Taylor woke up from her slumber with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker. Walker, a licensed gun owner, fired a warning shot, striking one of the police in the leg, thinking it was a home invasion.
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The officers returned fire, striking Walker and killing Taylor in the process. Nevertheless, the apartment that was the subject of the warrant turned up no drugs or proof of criminal behavior.
Charges Filed By US Police And Arrest Specifics
One of the involved policemen, Brett Hankison, was charged by a grand jury in September 2020 on three charges of wanton endangerment for allegedly deploying his firearm carelessly and putting the residents of the nearby apartments in danger.
However, Taylor’s death was not directly linked to any of the cops.
More demonstrations and calls for justice followed the decision to not prosecute the police directly in connection with Taylor’s death. The ruling was criticized by many who said it was a reflection of the institutionalized racism and bias in the American legal system.
The U.S. Department of Justice looked into the procedures and guidelines of the Louisville Metro Police Department in May 2021. The purpose of the investigation is to find out if the agency uses excessive force or has a pattern of unconstitutional policing.
City Officials Assure Reforms
Following Taylor’s passing, officials from the city of Louisville pledged to overhaul the procedures and regulations of the Police Department.
The use of no-knock warrants was outlawed by the unanimous adoption of “Breonna’s Law” by the city council in December 2020.
Along with requiring cops to wear body cameras during searches and arrests, the bill also requires them to submit to drug and alcohol testing following any events involving the use of force. The goal of the Breonna Taylor statute was to stop future occurrences of situations like this one.
Nonetheless, a number of activists and civil rights organizations contend that additional reforms are required to solve the structural problems of racism and bias in the American legal system.
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They emphasize the necessity of holding police personnel to a higher standard of accountability and of funding community-based initiatives that offer alternatives to traditional forms of law enforcement.
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