Actionable Steps We Can All Take Following the Troubling Statements From Grand Jurors in the Breonna Taylor Case

From Cosmopolitan

On September 23, a grand jury moved to indict only one officer involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor, who was asleep in her own home when police barged in to carry out a botched raid. Sergeant Brett Hankison was charged with "wanton endangerment" because some of the 10 shots he fired during the deadly encounter ended up in a neighboring apartment. He wasn’t actually charged with anything directly related to Taylor’s death and faces a maximum of five years in prison. No criminal charges were brought against officer Myles Cosgrove and Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly.

After a summer defined by loss and protests for Black Lives Matter, this indictment is understandably disappointing to so many. Sadly, it’s not at all surprising. As defeating as this is, it’s important to press on and continue to fight for Black lives and demand justice for Taylor. We must. If you’re thinking, Well, what now? here are some actionable steps you can take.

End No-Knock Warrants Nationwide

Following Taylor’s death, the Louisville Metro Council voted to ban no-knock warrants and mandate police officers wear and turn on body cams five minutes before "beginning an operation." Loralei HoJay, the creator of the Breonna Taylor Change.org petition (which has more than 11 million signatures), is now calling on people to support the ban of no-knock warrants nationwide.

Two anonymous jury members recently came forward and said homicide offenses were never explained to the jury members, meaning they never had the opportunity to consider charges to that degree. "Self defense or justification was never explained either....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," one juror stated. Following these recent statements, HoJay added an additional point to the petition. Now, the petition also calls on the state of Kentucky to appoint a new prosecutor and convene a new grand jury. She wrote, "[Daniel Cameron’s] partisan interests and position within the GOP have clearly influenced his ability to fulfill his responsibilities as an Attorney General and officer of the law."

According to a separate fundraising page spearheaded by HoJay, she’s seeking help placing 100 billboards in Louisville and Frankfort, Kentucky. This is part of a national push calling on Mitch McConnell and the Senate to pass the Justice for Breonna Act to ban no-knock warrants on a federal level. If you believe in this cause, you can donate here, sign the petition here, and find representative contact information right here and here.

Support the Breathe Act

Read up on the Breathe Act, which seeks to divest taxpayer funds from police departments and invest in "a new vision of public safety—a vision that answers the call to defund the police and allows all communities to finally breathe free." If you want more information about how you can host digital events to bring more awareness to this proposed legislation, check out the Breathe Act’s website, which is filled with even more ways to take action.

Donate, Donate, Donate

As the Louisville chapter of Black Lives Matter noted, "There isn’t a verdict in the world that will remove white supremacy from #Louisville—that’s up to us as a community.” Allies—especially white allies who benefit from systemic racism and their privilege—can help by donating so that Black families in Louisville can “have the resources they need to heal and survive in the midst of this ongoing nightmare."

Donate here, and continue to contribute to national organizations like the National Action Network, the NAACP, Equal Justice Initiative, Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp, and Unicorn Riot.

You can also direct funds to the official GoFundMe that Taylor’s family set up. Donations to that link will go toward advocating for police reform, various charities, women who want to start their own businesses, and scholarships for people who want to become emergency medical technicians and registered nurses.

(Note: In addition to calling for donations to bail funds and national organizations, the Louisville Black Lives Matter chapter also implored white people to "do your part by paying reparations so that Black Louisville families have the resources they need to heal and survive in the midst of this ongoing nightmare." If you want more info about reparations, how they can offset the hundreds of years of slavery and systemic inequality, and how they can impact Louisville specifically, this article can help.)

Protect Protestors

Ahead of the grand jury decision, the city of Louisville imposed a curfew and declared a state of emergency, which could mean a bigger police presence at protests. It’s so important to support the protestors who are brave enough to go out and take a stand in the coming days. As was the case when the Black Lives Matter protests gained steam earlier this summer, make sure you donate to national and local bail funds to ensure that those who are arrested for protesting and exercising their constitutional rights won’t fall victim to the predatory bail system and legal fees.

Consider donating to the Louisville Community Bail Fund, the Bail Project National Revolving Bail Fund, LGBTQ Fund, Emergency Release Fund, and Trans Justice Funding Project.

Register to Vote

Seriously, this isn’t just a cliché. No, voting won’t automatically end police brutality or make systemic racism go away, but here’s why it matters: When you vote for people who, for example, support your stance on police abolition or reform, they can help introduce legislation that has the ability to impact our communities. (The Minneapolis City Council recently submitted a proposal to disband the city’s police department, for example.)

Plus, state positions like the Kentucky attorney general are elected. Mind you, the current AG, Daniel Cameron, is up for reelection in 2024 and is the same guy who said the officers were "justified in their use of force" against Breonna Taylor and her boyfriend, so keep that in mind when it’s time to vote.

Rest

This might sound like a broken record at this point, but it bears repeating: Take care of yourself first and foremost. It’s been a centuries-long journey to get to where we are today, and there’s still so much more that needs to be done to achieve true equality and justice for slain Black people like Taylor. But you can’t be of service to anyone else if you’re not looking after your mental, physical, or emotional health. (For mental health resources for Black women, check out this guide.) If you need time, rest. Then come back stronger and ready to work.

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