UltraViolet Responds to Arrest of Louisville Police Officer Responsible for Murdering Breonna Taylor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, June 19, 2020
CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro | Anna@unbendablemedia.com
UltraViolet Responds to Arrest of Louisville Police Officer Responsible for Murdering Breonna Taylor
Moments ago, the Louisville Courier Journal reported that Mayor Greg Fischer has announced the Louisville Metro Police will initiate the termination of Officer Brett Hankison, one of three LMPD officers responsible for fatally shooting Breonna Taylor in her apartment in March.
In response, Chanelle Helm, core lead organizer BLM Louisville, released the following statement:
“This is an unbelievable feeling. We have been fighting in the streets. This is not only justice for Breonna’s family, this is justice for the protestors who are also victims of police terrorism. While we are still perplexed why the other officers haven’t been fired we know that is still coming. We want to thank the community for coming together in support of the Louisville protestors in spite of the violence we have experienced from the police while fighting for justice.”
In response, Shaunna Thomas, Executive Director of the national women’s group UltraViolet, released the following statement:
“The LMPD’s firing of Brett Hankison is an important step, but still falls short of everything that needs to be done to win justice for Breonna Taylor. The LMPD must also fire the remaining officers, arrest them and hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law. We stand with the family and BLM Louisville and demand that the LMPD revoke the pensions of these officers, that the Mayor of Louisville and LMPD address the use of force in this department, and provide necessary information to a local, independent civilian community police accountability council.
“The work here is far from over. We will not stop fighting for justice until the remaining officers who murdered Breonna Taylor are also fired and arrested.
This past month, The Louisville Courier Journal carried a paid advertisement commissioned by UltraViolet and Color of Change in conjunction with Black Lives Matter in Louisville declaring that “Breonna was Essential.”
VIEW THE AD HERE: https://bit.ly/BreonnaWasEssential
Nearly three months after Louisville Metro Police officers fatally shot Breonna Taylor in her South End apartment, the department released the incident report from that night; it is almost entirely blank. The four-page report lists the time, date, case number, incident location and Taylor’s name — as well as the fact that she is a 26-year-old black female. Though she was shot at least eight times, the report lists Taylor’s injuries as “none.”
After the release of the report, UltraViolet and Color of Change worked with activists from Black Lives Matter Louisville to commission a plane that fly over downtown Louisville demanding justice for Breonna Taylor.
Last week, the Louisville Metro Council voted unanimously to ban no-knock warrants. The legislation was titled Breonna’s Law, in honor of Breonna Taylor.
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