Judge who signed Breonna Taylor warrant loses reelection

A Kentucky judge who signed off on the police raid that resulted in the death of Breonna Taylor lost her reelection bid on Tuesday.

Judge Mary Shaw lost to Tracy Evette Davis for the Circuit Court Judge - 5th Division seat by 2,367 votes as of Wednesday morning.

She faced criticism in the past for signing the falsified warrant in March 2020 for the raid of Taylor's apartment.

Tracy Davis is a native Louisvillian, mother, grandmother and practicing attorney.

She said while practicing, she saw instances of unconscious bias. She was sometimes the only woman or person of color in a courtroom, and saw ways to make the system more accessible.

Davis felt switching spots, running for a seat, was a way to have a broader impact.

Her aim is to bring transparency to the court. She also values the use of technology to make things easier on lawyers and litigants.

"I do want change," Davis said. "I do want the city to heal, I do want people to trust the judicial system and to have faith that when they come seeking justice, justice is what they will get regardless of where they come from or who they are."

Responding to questions of how the race was impacted by the attention on the Breonna Taylor race and Judge Shaw, Davis said she felt after the pandemic, people started paying more attention to the decisions made in the judiciary and by lawmakers.

Davis said in this race, she felt people researched more than they may have before and paid attention to the votes they cast in judicial contests.

“Who are the people on the judiciary, what are their thoughts, what are their approaches to things, what are their thoughts on bond and bail," she said. “I can honestly say the people went through the races and selected who they thought was the best fit for the judicial system.”

[SOURCE: MSN]

4 police officers charged with civil rights offenses in connection to Breonna Taylor's death

Four current and former Louisville Metro Police Department officers involved in the deadly raid on Breonna Taylor's home were arrested and charged with federal civil rights offenses, unlawful conspiracies, unconstitutional use of force and obstruction offenses, Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a press conference

Civil: Ben Crump documentary to be released on Juneteenth

CIVIL is an intimate look at the life of maverick civil rights attorney Ben Crump and his mission to raise the value of Black life in America. Through the lens of award-winning filmmaker Nadia Hallgren (Becoming), CIVIL follows a year in the life as Crump takes on the civil cases for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Black farmers and banking while Black victims.

The film was produced by Kenya Barris, Roger Ross Williams, Lauren Cioffi and Nadia Hallgren

Civil: Ben Crump will be released on Netflix June 19, 2022

WATCH THE TRAILER

Breonna Taylor’s Vanity Fair Portrait Now Hangs In National Museum of African American History and Culture

Breonna Taylor‘s likeness and image have been kept alive and circulating widely on t-shirts and on murals thanks to the striking portrait by famed artist Amy Sherald.

On Friday, Taylor’s famous portrait that graced the cover of the September 2020 issue of Vanity Fair will now hang in the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), which is part of the Smithsonian, in a new exhibition called “Reckoning: Protest. Defiance. Resilience.”

The graceful portrait, which is now co-owned by the NMAAHC in Washington, D.C. and The Speed Museum in Louisville, Kentucky, depicts Taylor in a flowing turquoise gown, beaming with statuesque beauty and an engagement ring on her finger — a nod to the married life that was to come before her life was tragically cut short.

“I am honored and proud of the work the museum has accomplished over the past five years to share African American history and culture with the world,” said Kevin Young, the Andrew W. Mellon director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Taylor’s display is part of the the Black Lives Matter movement installation.

Horse named for Breonna Taylor wins Kentucky Derby week race

A horse named after Breonna Taylor and owned by the lawyer who represented her family against the Louisville Metro Police Department, won the fourth race Thursday at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week.

Breonna, trained by Steve Margolis, rode to victory in the six-furlong race under jockey Corey Lanerie on a muddy track as rain pelted Louisville.

Breonna is owned by JS Stables, LLC, a thoroughbred horse racing operation owned and operated by lawyer Sam Aguiar and his wife, Janelle. The Aguiars weren't at the track Thursday for the race.

But Sam Aguiar said he watched the race in his office with his law partner Lonita Baker and Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer.

The Aguiars own about 20 horses and told The Courier Journal they are donating the race's $10,000 purse to the Breonna Taylor Foundation, a nonprofit the Taylor family formed in 2020.

"My wife named the filly Breonna because she was beautiful, strong and resilient," Sam Aguiar said. "She's tough and has swagger. But to those closest to her, she's also loving and kind. That was Breonna Taylor as well."

[SOURCE: COURIER JOURNAL]

Kentucky partailly bans no-knock warrants

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed a partial ban on no-knock warrants Friday after months of demonstrations set off by the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in her home during a botched police raid last year.

The law signed by the Democratic governor is not the total ban many protesters and some Democratic lawmakers had sought -- a proposal that had been introduced as "Breonna's Law" -- but it also doesn't prevent individual cities and towns from banning the warrants completely.

The measure drew bipartisan support in the Legislature, where Republicans hold veto-proof supermajorities in the House and Senate. The law permits no-knock warrants only if there is "clear and convincing evidence" that the crime being investigated "would qualify a person, if convicted, as a violent offender."

Under the law that was passed, no-knock warrants must be executed between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. and officers are required to take additional steps to obtain warrants. Judges are also required to sign legibly when approving them and an EMT must be nearby during execution of the warrant.

Members of the Taylor family stood behind the governor during the bill signing at Louisville's Kentucky Center for African American Heritage. Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, shed tears as she accepted the pen the governor used to sign the measure.

"While it's not the full legislation that they wanted in terms of a complete ban on no-knock warrants, they are satisfied that this is a start and a win in a deeply divided General Assembly," said the family's attorney, Lonita Baker.

Baker added that the family looks forward to working with lawmakers on future legislation to further restrict the warrants and increase police accountability.

Charges permanently against Breonna Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker dropped

A judge on Monday ruled that charges against Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, for shooting a Louisville, Ky., police officer would be permanently dropped.

Jefferson Circuit Judge Olu Stevens declared that the charges against Walker would be dismissed with prejudice preventing him from being charged with the March 13 incident that resulted in his girlfriend’s death, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported.

The charges were dropped after Jefferson Commonwealth Attorney Tom Wine’s office filed for their dismissal with prejudice last week.

Wine had requested a further investigation after charges against Walker were dismissed in May 2020, but his office noted last week that “no new information relevant to the charges against [Walker] in this matter has been brought to the commonwealth’s attention.”

"As such, the commonwealth moves the court to amend its prior dismissal of this matter without prejudice to a dismissal with prejudice," the document from Wine’s office said, according to the newspaper.

Walker commented on the office’s request to dismiss charges last week in an Instagram post, saying, “I’m blessed for sure but there’s a lot more to be done we gonna get justice for Breonna Taylor.”

His lawyer Steve Romines said in a statement obtained by the Courier-Journal, "We believe the city used Kenneth as a pawn to cover up the events that took place on March 13, 2020, and further used him to cover up the deep-seated failures within the Louisville Metro Police Department.”

“It does not go unnoticed that neither the city nor the LMPD has apologized for using Kenneth as a scapegoat for an improper raid gone bad,” Romines added.

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

Breonna Taylor grand jurors file petition to impeach Attorney General Daniel Cameron

Three grand jurors in the Breonna Taylor case filed a petition with the state House of Representatives on Friday, objecting to the conduct of Attorney General Daniel Cameron and calling for his impeachment.

A press release indicated the attorney for three of the grand jurors in the Taylor case signed onto the petition on their behalf in order to protect their identities.

The petition alleges Cameron breached public trust and failed to comply with his duties by misrepresenting the findings of the grand jury in the Taylor case.

“The Grand Jurors did not choose this battle,” stated Kevin Glogower, the attorney for the three grand jurors. “This battle chose them."

"These are randomly selected citizens who were compelled to sit on a grand jury and were terribly misused by the most powerful law enforcement official in Kentucky. It is truly a testament to the Kentucky Constitution that they are able to be here today and to expose injustice and demand public accountability.”

House Speaker David Osborne confirmed lawmakers had "received notice of another petition for impeachment," but said in a statement he would "reserve further comment until our attorneys review it and the committee on committees has an opportunity to act."

The Committee on Committees will determine what committee will consider the petition. Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Louisville, who chairs the impeachment committee, said Friday he assumed his committee would get it once it's officially filed, which cannot happen until legislators return to Frankfort on Feb. 2.

[SOURCE: COURIER JOURNAL]

Breonna Taylor grand juror says panel was not advised to consider homicide charges

Looks like Kentucky Attorney General was less than honest when he said that a grand jury agreed with prosecutors that no one should be directly charged with killing Taylor.

A grand juror who won a court fight to speak publicly about the Breonna Taylor investigation took issue Tuesday with statements by Kentucky's attorney general and said the jury was not given the option to consider charges connected to Taylor's shooting death by police.

The juror released the following statement through an attorney:

Statement of Anonymous Grand Juror #1

Being one of the jurors on the Breonna Taylor case was a learning experience.The three weeks of service leading up to that presntation showed how the grand jury normally operates. The Breonna Taylor case was quite different. After hearing the Attorney General Daniel Cameron's press conference, and with my duty as a grand juror being over, my duty as a citizen compelled action. The grand jury was not presented any charges other than the three Wanton Endangerment charges against Detective Hankison. The grand jury did not have homicide offenses explained to them. The grand jury never heard anything about those laws. Self defense or justification was never explained either. Questions were asked about additional charges and the grand jury was told there would be none because the prosecutors didn't feel they could make them stick. The grand jury didn't agree that certain actions were justified, nor did it decide the indictment should be the only charges in the Breonna Taylor case. The grand jury was not given the opportunity to deliberate on those charges and deliberated only on what was presented to them. I cannot speak for other jurors but I can help the truth be told.

Anonymous Grand Juror #1

Kentucky AG to release grand jury recording in Breonna Taylor case

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron (R) committed Monday night to releasing a recording of the grand jury proceedings in the Breonna Taylor case.

Cameron said in a statement that he plans to release the recording Wednesday in compliance with a judge’s order, despite concerns about how it could affect the ongoing investigation and have other “unintended consequences.”

His agreement to release the recording comes less than a week after the grand jury indicted one police officer involved in the shooting that resulted in Taylor’s death for endangering her neighbors.

“As the special prosecutor, our team has an ethical obligation not to release the recording from the Grand Jury proceedings, and we stand by our belief that such a release could compromise the ongoing federal investigation and could have unintended consequences such as poisoning the jury pool,” Cameron said in the statement. “Despite these concerns, we will comply with the Judge’s order to release the recording on Wednesday."

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

Benjamin Crump statement on grand jury decision in Breonna Taylor case

Civil Rights Attorney, Benjamin Crump released the following statement after Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced that none of the three officers involved in Breonna Taylor’s shooting would be charged with her death and only one officer will face charges for shooting into a neighbor’s apartment on the night of the raid.

“This is outrageous and offensive to Breonna Taylor’s memory. It’s yet another example of no accountability for the genocide of persons of color by white police officers. With all we know about Breonna Taylor’s killing, how could a fair and just system result in today’s decision? Her killing was criminal on so many levels: An illegal warrant obtained by perjury. Breaking into a home without announcing, despite instructions to execute a warrant that required it. More than 30 gunshots fired, many of which were aimed at Breonna while she was on the ground. Many others fired blindly into every room of her home. A documented and clear cover-up, and the death of an unarmed Black woman who posed no threat and who was living her best life. Yet here we are, without justice for Breonna, her family and the Black community.

“If Hankison’s behavior constituted wanton endangerment of the people in the apartments next to hers, then it should also be considered wanton endangerment of Breonna. In fact, it should have been ruled wanton murder. How ironic and typical that the only charges brought in this case were for shots fired into the apartment of a white neighbor, while no charges were brought for the shots fired into the Black neighbor’s apartment or into Breonna’s residence. This amounts to the most egregious disrespect of Black people, especially Black women, killed by police in America, and it’s indefensible, regardless of how Attorney General Daniel Cameron seeks to justify it.

“The rallying cries that have been echoing throughout the nation have been once again ignored by a justice system that claims to serve the people. But when a justice system only acts in the best interest of the most privileged and whitest among us, it has failed. For the sake of Breonna Taylor, for the sake of justice, and for the sake of all Americans, law enforcement agencies and their representatives throughout the country need to take a long, hard look in the mirror. Is this who you are? Is this the example you want to set for the rest of the world and for future generations?

“Today’s news falls far short of what constitutes justice. But by no means does it define this movement or this moment in our history. The Grand Jury may have denied Breonna justice, but this decision cannot take away her legacy as a loving, vibrant young Black woman who served on the front lines in the midst of a devastating pandemic. It is our hope that through the FBI’s investigation, we will finally get the justice for Breonna that the Grand Jury refused her today.

“Make no mistake, we will keep fighting this fight in Breonna’s memory, and we will never stop saying her name.”

Breonna Taylor case being presented to a grand jury

A grand jury has been empaneled to investigate the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, two people close to the process told CNN.

The grand jury, which was empaneled this week, "will be hearing other criminal cases first to get their feet wet with the process and then hear the Taylor case," a source close to the investigation told CNN on Wednesday.

Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT and aspiring nurse, was fatally shot after police broke down the door to her apartment while executing a late-night "no-knock" warrant in a narcotics investigation on March 13.

The source told CNN that the grand jury is meeting at an alternate location because of safety concerns due to ongoing protests in Jefferson Square Park, which has been informally renamed as "Breonna Taylor Park."

The grand jury is expected to eventually decide the fate of three officers who opened fire during the incident.

[SOURCE: CNN]

Breonna Taylor's boyfriend files civil complaint against Louisville police

Kenneth Walker, the boyfriend of Breonna Taylor who allegedly opened fire at the officers who shot and killed her, announced Tuesday he's suing the city of Louisville, its police and others, for immunity against his actions that night under Kentucky's "stand your ground" law.

Walker, 27, and a licensed gun owner, was initially charged with attempted murder and assault following the March 13 incident, but those charges were dropped. Kentucky's attorney general and the FBI are still investigating Taylor's shooting, and Walker said the suit would prevent officials from re-arresting and charging him for any crime related to the incident.

In addition to preventing future prosecution, Walker is seeking damages in part for the gross negligence of the police "for the trauma, humiliation, indignity, physical pain, mental suffering, or mental anguish he suffered," the suit said.

[SOURCE: ABC NEWS]

Lakers wear hats to keep attention on Breonna Taylor case

The Los Angeles Lakers arrived to Game 1 of their first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night in red baseball caps, only with a twist.

Each cap had "Make America Great Again" stitched in white letters, just like the one President Donald Trump often wears; but the words "Great Again" were crossed out, and the message "Arrest The Cops Who Killed Breonna Taylor" was printed below them.

"You know, this is something that we continue to put our foot on the gas, continue to pressure," LeBron James said after the Lakers' 100-93 loss. "You know, the situation that's going on in Louisville, Kentucky. An innocent woman being killed in Breonna Taylor, a woman who had a bright future and her future was taken away from her. And there's been no arrests. There's been no justice. Not only for her, but for her family. And we want to continue to shed light on that situation, because it's just unjust, and that's what it's about."

It was a continuation of the calls for awareness about the circumstances surrounding Taylor's death made by the Lakers and many other players since the NBA invited 22 teams to Orlando, Florida, to restart its season last month.

[SOURCE: ESPN]

Oprah's puts up 26 billboards asking for justice for Breonna Taylor around Louisville

Oprah Winfrey is spearheading a high-profile campaign to bring attention to Breonna Taylor's case. Winfrey featured Taylor on the cover of September's issue of her magazine and set up 26 billboards in Louisville, Kentucky, demanding charges against the officers involved in her death.

Mercury players will wear Breonna Taylor's name on jerseys in WNBA opener

Phoenix Mercury players will wear Breonna Taylor jerseys in WNBA opener.

Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman, was fatally shot when police officers burst into her Louisville apartment using a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation. The warrant to search her home was in connection with a suspect who did not live there and no drugs were found.

Phoenix players’ jerseys will feature a nameplate that reads “Breonna Taylor” below each player’s number and last name. Additionally, the Mercury will warm up in shirts that read “Black Lives Matter” on the front and “Say Her Name” on the back.

The team, which is in a bubbble in Florida, will open the 2020 campaign this Saturday against the Los Angeles Sparks. The opener tips at 12 p.m. and will be available to watch on ABC.

[SOURCE: ARIZONA SPORTS]

Louisville Metro Council to vote on issuing subpoenas in its investigation of Breonna Taylor shooting

Louisville – The Government Oversight and Audit Committee (GOA) filed an Order to officially launch the Investigation into the action and inaction of the Fischer Administration regarding the death of Breonna Taylor, the death of David McAtee, and related protests in Louisville Metro. The Order will be considered during the next regular meeting of the Committee on Tuesday, July 14th at 5pm.

The Order is sponsored by Chair Brent Ackerson (D-26) and Vice Chair Anthony Piagentini (R-19).

The Order lays out the reasons for the investigation, the scope, the statutory authority of the Committee governing the proceedings, and requirement of a report of their findings at the conclusion of the Investigation.

Specifically, the Investigation will look into:

• the action and inaction of Louisville Metro Government leading up to the death of Breonna Taylor in her home on March 13th;
• identifying, requesting, and publishing relevant documents to the deaths of Breonna Taylor and David McAtee;
• identifying any shortcomings in training policies, or control systems, that led to the execution of a no-knock warrant at a residence in the middle of the night;
• identifying any errors or omissions in following procedures, best practices, or follow-up decisions after the death 0f Breonna Taylor and David McAtee;
• exploring the action and inaction of the administration in the ongoing responses to protests that took place following the deaths of Breonna Taylor and David McAtee;
• interviewing persons and obtaining relevant information related to the aforementioned concerns.

Section Three of the Order reiterates the Committee’s authority to issue subpoenas in this Investigation pursuant to Kentucky Revised Statutes and Metro Council Rules.

The Committee plans to vote on and authorize the first subpoenas in this investigation following passage of the Order Tuesday afternoon. Former LMPD Chief Steve Conrad and current Chief Robert Schroeder will be the recipients considered at the meeting.

The Order, as filed, is attached just follow the link below.

https://louisvilleky.gov/sites/default/files/metro_council/pdf_files/ord...

#SAYHERNAME: 18 Black women who have died at the hands of police since Eric Garner's death

We all know the names of Eric Garner, George Floyd, and the far too many other Black men that have died at the hands of police in between their deaths. But other than Breonna Taylor and perhaps Attatiana Jefferson how many of us know the names of 16 other Black women who have died in between the deaths of Garner and Floyd?

The African American Policy Forum has started a #SayHerName Campaign to change that and to help us all understand that Black women are under the same threat from police as Black Men in the United States

Below is a list of 18 Black women who have died at the hands of police since Eric Garner's death. The list does NOT contain the list of every Black woman to have been killed by police since 2014. Click each name to find out about her story:

2014

Pearlie Golden

Michelle Cusseaux

Tanisha Anderson

Natasha McKenna

Mya Hall

Alexia Christian

2015

Joyce Curnell

Ralkina Jones

India Kager

Kisha Michael

2016

Korryn Gaines

Deborah Danner

Michelle Shirley

Charleena Lewis

2018

Decynthia Clements

Pamela Turner

2020

Atatiana Jefferson

Breonna Taylor

Learn more about the AAFP's #SayHerName campaign by clicking here: https://aapf.org/sayhername

Sen. Kamala Harris statement in three officers that killed Breonna Taylor

Senator Kamala Harris took to Twitter to make the following statement about the three officers that murdered Breonna Taylor:

It’s past time for all three police officers who murdered Breonna Taylor to be arrested. It’s been almost three months. There’s no reason for them to still be roaming free.

REP. LEWIS ON RECENT POLICE KILLINGS AND CIVIL UNREST ACROSS THE NATION

Rep. John Lewis released the following statement on recent police killings and civil unrest throughout the United States:

"Sixty-five years have passed, and I still remember the face of young Emmett Till. It was 1955. I was 15 years old — just a year older than him. What happened that summer in Money, Mississippi, and the months that followed — the recanted accusation, the sham trial, the dreaded verdict — shocked the country to its core. And it helped spur a series of non-violent events by everyday people who demanded better from our country.

“Despite real progress, I can't help but think of young Emmett today as I watch video after video after video of unarmed Black Americans being killed, and falsely accused. My heart breaks for these men and women, their families, and the country that let them down — again. My fellow Americans, this is a special moment in our history. Just as people of all faiths and no faiths, and all backgrounds, creeds, and colors banded together decades ago to fight for equality and justice in a peaceful, orderly, non-violent fashion, we must do so again.

“To the rioters here in Atlanta and across the country: I see you, and I hear you. I know your pain, your rage, your sense of despair and hopelessness. Justice has, indeed, been denied for far too long. Rioting, looting, and burning is not the way. Organize. Demonstrate. Sit-in. Stand-up. Vote. Be constructive, not destructive. History has proven time and again that non-violent, peaceful protest is the way to achieve the justice and equality that we all deserve.

“Our work won't be easy — nothing worth having ever is — but I strongly believe, as Dr. King once said, that while the arc of the moral universe is long, it bends toward justice.”