Loralei HoJay started this petition to Governor Andy Beshear and Rand Paul @ https://www.change.org/decision-makers/rand-paul

Sign the petition here:
https://www.change.org/p/andy-beshear-justice-for-breonna-taylor?source_location=petitions_browse

Breonna Taylor was an award-winning EMT and model citizen. She loved her family and community, working at two hospitals as an essential worker during the pandemic.

Nearly four months ago, a division of the Louisville Police Department performed an illegal, unannounced drug raid on her home. Not a single officer announced themselves before ramming down her door and firing 22 shots, shooting Breonna 8 times, killing her. 

Not only were the police at the WRONG HOUSE, but the man they were looking for had already been arrested earlier that day. 

1. Charges must be filed immediately. The officers involved, specifically John Mattingly, Brett Hankison, Myles Cosgrove, and any other law enforcement officer involved in the death and coverup of the death of Breonna Taylor must be fired, charged, and arrested immediately. There have been no charges thus far (it has been nearly 4 months). Their pensions must be revoked. 

2. Her family must be paid in damages for wrongful death and the negligence of the LMPD. 

3. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear must speak up on behalf of Breonna, and Governor Beshear or Attorney General Daniel Cameron must appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the Louisville Police Department immediately. An in-house investigation is unacceptable. 

4. The “no-knock” warrant that police had used in Breonna’s murder completely violates the constitutional rights to reasonable search and seizure. By law, police must be legally obligated to announce themselves before breaking and entering into a home privately owned by American civilians. Legislation to federally ban no-knock warrants must be passed in Congress and signed by the President; what happened to Breonna was a complete violation of her constitutional rights, and threatens the rights of all American citizens. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky has voiced similar concerns. A special session must be intervened by Congress to discuss the constitutionality of no-knock warrants immediately. 

This has carried on for over three months. For weeks, the city treated Breonna like she was a criminal, calling her a “suspect” before finally admitting that she was an innocent, crimeless victim. She had no drugs. She committed no crime. 

Yet, she is dead, and the perpetrators are facing no charges. 

She was not only an exemplary citizen, but an essential one. She was a daughter, a friend, an American hero, and most importantly, a person. She deserved to be treated as such. 

Let’s get justice for Breonna. Say her name. 

PLEASE help me get the word out, and share this campaign on your social media platforms. Thank you to everyone who is helping in our fight to get justice for Breonna.

Petition update

Breonna Taylor — Brett Hankison Fired

Loralei HoJay New York, NY, United States

Jun 19, 2020 — 

Brett Hankison, one of the three officers involved in the murder of Breonna Taylor, has been fired from the Louisville Police Department. 

I caution you, however — do not be satisfied with that. The mayor of Louisville thinks he can throw Brett Hankison to us as a sacrificial lamb, and that the scrutiny and criticism will stop. He’s wrong.

Firing Brett Hankison is not enough. That man will likely receive his pension and retire comfortably. For a man that murdered an innocent woman, that does not seem like a punishment fit for the crime he committed. 

The other two officers, Myles Cosgrove and John Mattingly, have been placed on “administrative leave.” Again, not enough. 

We want charges and arrests to be made immediately. Suspend the officers’ pensions immediately. We want a special investigation by the Attorney General — an investigation made transparent and clear to the public. 

If Kentucky officials believe that firing Brett Hankison is justice, they’re wrong. And to any Kentucky officials seeing this: the people of Kentucky see you. The American public sees you. And we will vote you out. You are complicit.

Justice for Breonna. Real Justice for Breonna. Brett Hankison being fired is just a CRUMB, a MORSEL, of what Breonna and her family deserve. 

• Sheriff’s deputies remove protesters from in front of the Mecklenburg County jail on Thursday.
• SARAH DELIA / WFAE

Mecklenburg County deputy sheriffs arrested 43 people Thursday at an aid station in front of the Mecklenburg County jail — a few hours after the sheriff told them to leave the area. 

The area, next to a sidewalk, had been used by protesters with Charlotte Uprising since protests against systemic racism and police brutality began three weeks ago to provide food, water, masks and rides for people who are released from jail. The group has also provided medical aid during nightly protests.

But on Thursday morning, Sheriff Garry McFadden told the group to leave the site dubbed “jail support” by 2 p.m. In a press release issued Thursday evening, the sheriff’s office said it received several complaints about the group harassing visitors, employees and impeding business operations. Complaints ranged from spitting and banting on windows to sleeping overnight at the area, blocking bus lanes and pedestrian traffic.

A video posted on Twitter by Charlotte Uprising showed McFadden telling the group to move. 

“So you’re giving us a four-hour window to do this?” one person asked.

“Yes, and if you need something to be moved, we can help with that move, we have a truck,” McFadden said.

More people had come to the area by 2 p.m. to protest the sheriff’s move, and tensions grew. Patrol cars lined Fourth Street with blue lights on. The group asked the numerous deputies why they were being told to move after weeks of being there.

“We’re not doing anything wrong,” someone yelled.

Inches separated the group and deputies at times as curses filled the air and deputies demanded people stay out of the street.

Deputies warned the crowd if they did not disperse, they would be taken into custody. While some left, others remained asking why they were being removed.

One man yelled “I am not resisting” as he was taken into custody. A woman lifted both legs as two deputies held her on either side. Another man who appeared unwilling to move, was carried away by three deputies.

“I am deeply disturbed because I support the cause of reentry into the community as it is apart of my Mission and Vision for my agency,” McFadden said in a statement. “What I cannot support is an unsafe and disruptive environment for those conducting business at MCSO facilities. I now look forward to continuing positive dialogue with members of the community as we move past this unfortunate incident.”

At least one public defender was among the many taken into custody.

Eventually, supplies were loaded into vehicles and taken away.

By evening, Charlotte Uprising tweeted that it had set up jail support again — on the other side of the street.

Charlotte Uprising@cltuprising

We have set up jail support on the other side of the street. Come join us and help us get set up.

A woman is pulled away from the “jail support” tent by Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Deputies on Thursday.

CREDIT SARAH DELIA / WFAE

By: Cameron Thompson , WTVR CBS 6 Web Staff 
RICHMOND, Va. — A group of about 20 to 30 protesters entered the lobby of the apartment building on Tuesday night where Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney lives.

Protesters vandalize, enter Mayor Stoney’s apartment building

“A crowd of between 200 and 250 protesters gathered outside Mayor Stoney’s residential building [Tuesday night],” Richmond Police spokesperson Gene Lepley wrote in an email about the incident. “They chanted about the mayor and tagged the building with graffiti. A group of about 20 of them briefly entered the building’s lobby before being removed by private security.”

CBS 6 obtained video showing the group inside the lobby and spoke with the person who filmed it.

He said a resident inside the building opened the door and a group of about 20 to 30 black and white protesters went inside to the lobby.

“When we went in there was a security guard telling us to put on a mask,” said Goad Gatsby. “And…if they want someone to come down, they’ll come down on their own. The mayor did not come down. It was about two or three minutes in there and people just left.”

Stoney’s office released a statement about the incident which said, “Entering anyone’s residence without permission is irresponsible and uncalled for, and more importantly only undermines the cause of Black Lives Matter.”

CBS6 has reached out to the apartment complex’s management for comment but have not heard back.

On Wednesday, a group of faith and community leaders held a news conference criticizing the protesters that went inside the building.

“The invasion on the mayor’s residence is so troubling to me. Where we live is our sacred space. Where we live, we choose it because that’s the vulnerable space for our families,” said Virginia State Del. Delores McQuinn (D – 70th) “And for someone to invade on the space where someone lives. It just takes all of this to another level.”

“Going to a man’s house in an act of intimidation is not cool in my opinion,” said Richmond’s 9th District Councilmember Dr. Michael Jones. “If you all want to have a conversation with him pull up and talk to him. And if not, demand that he talks to you.”

Those at the news conference stressed they were not lumping those individuals with the larger, ongoing protests in the city and added they wanted to work together “hand-in-hand” on issues of injustice and systemic racism.

“We must delineate between these young brothers and sisters and allies that are marching and protesting and doing it the right way,” said Jones. “I’ve been out there. Morning and night. Talking with, walking with, protesting with. It’s not the same people.”

“We know that there are good people that are trying to do some things that redress evils that we’ve had for many years and so we are praying that we have the opportunity to come together with a unified agenda in ways in which progress our people. In ways in which we haven’t seen before,” said Rev. F. Todd Gray of Fifth Street Baptist Church.

Some at the news conference also claimed that some of the protesters who entered the building were armed. However, Richmond Police did not mention anyone entering with a firearm and Gatsby said he did not see anyone who was armed. He added he had seen others carrying firearms earlier in the evening, but they were outside of the building.

Other outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, have reported that a note to residents inside the building stated “no weapons were noticed”.

Gatsby added the comments from the faith leaders stemmed from “inaccurate information” and said he wished that they would spend some nights out with the protesters.

“If they took some time to come out not just in the day, but at night when there is police abuse they can experience what happens on a nightly basis and not just during the day when there’s a more friendly environment,” said Gatsby. “I think if our elected officials, the delegates and city council people came out on a more regular basis, I know they have come out on previous nights, I think that they would understand and wouldn’t jump to rash judgments to stories they hear on the internet.”

Is it so you can give it to people with low iqs who are unfit to handle the power given by a badge like this?

So they can abuse their power and do things like this?

Harming innocent children with pepper spray like this..

I think it’s pretty clear that you guys are out of control, I believe you should make immediate corrections to your path before you cause any more harm and prevent things from becoming worse than they already are.

Kindly, Rebel Buddha <3

The Cordale Q. Handy In Remembrance of Me Foundation provides headstones to families who have lost children to police and community violence.

After weeks of unrest I decided to scour Unicorn Riots web page for this interview in particular:

Please consider making donations to these great organizations or ones that put back in your community.