We are outraged by the decision in the Breonna Taylor murder case announced by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron today. Of the three Louisville Metro Police Department officers responsible for her murder, only one – Brett Hankison – was charged, while Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove are still walking free.
More than six months after Breonna Taylor’s murder, Brett Hankison was charged for wanton endangerment for the gunshots he fired into her neighbor’s apartment, but not for the shots he fired that robbed Breonna Taylor of her life. The verdict sends a very clear message that walls are deemed to be more valuable than Black life in our country.
The American judicial system has failed Breonna Taylor. It is time to fundamentally reform the system to ensure justice for our communities. We must defund the police and hold law enforcement accountable for their actions. We need to ensure public safety by investing in infrastructure, safe and affordable housing, education, youth and services for Black and brown communities.
We took to the streets. We made calls. We posted on social media. It was not enough. Now we need to channel our rage and take action to ensure this never happens again.
Here are three things you can do right now:
- sign the petition to call for the city council to divest from the LMPD;
- make sure you are registered to vote this November;
- take the Follow Black Women survey to build Black women’s political power.
“I won’t go away. I’ll still fight,” said Tamika Palmer, Breonna’s mother. We stand with her and will continue to fight for Breonna and Black communities everywhere.
.
Forward,
Afua Atta-Mensah, Esq.
Executive Director
Community Voices Heard
Fighting For Our Families
Fight For Our Communities
Fighting For Ourselves
115 E. 106 Sreet #3
New York, NY 10029
.
About Community Voices Heard
Community Voices Heard (CVH) is a member-led, multi-racial organization principally comprised of women of color and low-income families in New York State. CVH tackles tough issues and builds power to secure racial, social and economic justice for all New Yorkers. Through grassroots organizing, leadership development, policy changes, and creating new models of direct democracy CVH is creating a truly equitable New York State.
To learn more, please visit here.
