The fight for justice for Breonna Taylor has been ongoing ever since she was shot in her home by Louisville police. While many of the heartbreaking details have been released to the public, there is still much we don’t (and probably never will know) about the whole situation.
Still, it seems wrong for the police to shoot an unarmed black woman in the confines of her own home and many in the NBA community feel the same way.
Unfortunately, the courts gave leniency to the officers responsible, as only one of the three was charged with first-degree wanton endangerment charges. Outraged and hurt, many have spoken up and out against this decision, including LeBron James and several other prominent figures in the basketball community.
The most DISRESPECTED person on earth is THE BLACK WOMAN! I promise you I’ll do my best to change this as much as I can and even more!! LOVE to you QUEENS all over this country and beyond! 👸🏽👸🏾👸🏿❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 24, 2020
I’ve been lost for words today! I’m devastated, hurt, sad, mad! We want Justice for Breonna yet justice was met for her neighbors apartment walls and not her beautiful life. Was I surprised at the verdict. Absolutely not but damnit I was & still am hurt and heavy hearted! I send
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 24, 2020
my love to Breonna mother, family and
friends! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!! 😔😔🥺🥺😢😢😢😭😭😭
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 24, 2020
It’s a disappointing day for Louisville, the state of Kentucky, and for all American people to say the least. Breonna Taylor’s family received a settlement in their wrongful death lawsuit yet no one is being held accountable for her wrongful death?? Help us understand!!!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) September 24, 2020
Stephen A. Smith closed his NBA Countdown segment today with this 👏🏽pic.twitter.com/Uap8rCdYWt
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 24, 2020
Perhaps now, more than ever, the black community wants to be heard. They want justice, they want equality, they want to be able to live their lives without fear.
While there’s no changing what happened to Breonna Taylor, perhaps bringing attention to the crimes carried out against her will save someone else from a similar fate. Perhaps making noise and drawing attention is the only way to get people to listen anymore.
LeBron, Magic, and many others around the country and around the globe want to inspire change. And while we seem to be taking some important steps towards progress, it’s clear we’ve still got a long way to go.
