Protesters march in cities across the country to demand justice for Breonna Taylor, one year after she was shot and killed by cops during a botched raid
Protesters marched in cities across the country on Saturday to demand justice on the one year anniversary of the death of Breonna Taylor as her family honored her legacy in Louisville, Kentucky.
Demonstrators demanded justice and police reforms as they protested in New York City, Atlanta, Louisville and Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman, died on March 13, 2020 when she was mistakenly shot and killed by officers during a botched raid of her apartment.
The deaths of Taylor and George Floyd, a black man who died under the knee of a policeman in Minneapolis, became a focus of a wave of protests last year against police abuses and racism in the United States.
Carolyn J. Ruff chants during a protest in Louisville Saturday on the anniversary of Breonna Taylor being killed in her apartment
Breonna Taylor, an EMT, was killed in her home during a botched drug raid last March 13. Pictured right: Breonna Taylor poses during a graduation ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky
Demonstrators pose for a picture in front of the Georgia Capitol building in Atlanta while marching through downtown in honor of Breonna Taylor on Saturday
People attend a rally to mark one year since police officers shot and killed Breonna Taylor when they entered her home, in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday
Women carry roses while wearing face masks during a vigil and a march to mark the one year anniversary of Breonna Taylor's killing, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on Saturday
Tamika Palmer, Taylor's mother, is pictured wiping away tears on the one-year anniversary of her daughter's death
Tamika Palmer is pictured wearing a mask as people gathered to mourn the death of her daughter and call for justice on the one year anniversary of Breonna Taylor's death on Saturday
Benjamin Crump, left, and Kenneth Walker speak at the one-year anniversary of Breonna Taylor's death at Injustice Square Park City in Louisville on Saturday
On Saturday, Taylor's mother Tamika Palmer led hundreds marching behind a large purple banner with an illustration of Taylor's face, chanting 'No justice, no peace.'
'Eyes are on Louisville, Kentucky, today so let's show America what community looks like,' said Taylor´s aunt, Bianca Austin, who wore her niece´s emergency medical technician jacket.
Austin spoke from a stage set up in Jefferson Square Park, which became an impromptu hub for protesters during months of demonstrations last summer.
An outdoor memorial was pictured on Saturday with a mural, posters, artwork and other mementos honoring Taylor's life. Some organizers gave away food during the speeches.
Flanked by two hand-painted murals of Taylor, activists repeated calls to charge the police officers who killed the black woman during a raid at her apartment.
'We got two different Americas. We got one for black Americans and one for white Americans,' Benjamin Crump, an attorney representing Taylor's family, told the crowd of hundreds in Louisville, Kentucky.
'We got to get justice for all our people in America.'
Tributes fill the center court in Justice Square Park during a protest in downtown Louisville on the anniversary of Breonna Taylor being killed in her apartment
Marchers hold a large banner during a protest in downtown Louisville on the anniversary of Breonna Taylor being killed in her apartment
Camille Bascus, a 50-year-old black woman, traveled more than 400 miles from Atlanta to Louisville 'to represent the people without voices, because they no longer have a heartbeat. We have a voice and our lives matter.'
'It's been a year and justice has not been served,' she told AFP with tears in her eyes.
A grand jury in September recommended no homicide charges against the three white officers in the case.
Twelve months after the killing - in which police shot Taylor while looking for an ex-boyfriend of hers - only one of three police officers has been charged. Brett Hankison, was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment for firing into a neighbor´s apartment.
Danah Montgomery raises her fist and chants in support with family members and other supporters during a march honoring Breonna Taylor on the one year anniversary of her death on Saturday in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Trevin Givson, Vice President of the group Family Over Everything hands flowers to Tawanna Gordon, a cousin of Breonna Taylor, during a march in Grand Rapids, Michigan, honoring her death on Saturday
A woman wearing a Green New Deal mask holds a sign during a protest march on the one year anniversary of the death of Breonna Taylor in Atlanta
Demonstrators march through downtown Atlanta in honor of Breonna Taylor on Saturday while holding a 'Justice for Breonna Taylor' sign
People participate in a protest to mark the one year anniversary of Breonna Taylor's death on Saturday in New York City
Over a dozen cars filled with demonstrators drive along East Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky during a protest to remember the life of Breonna Taylor on Saturday
A juror said later those charges were the only ones brought to the grand jury by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron.
The failure to press homicide charges - a decision denounced as 'outrageous' by Taylor's family - sparked sporadic violence in Louisville last September.
President Joe Biden on Saturday declared his support for reforms.
'Breonna Taylor's death was a tragedy, a blow to her family, her community, and America,' he tweeted.
'As we continue to mourn her, we must press ahead to pass meaningful police reform in Congress. I remain committed to signing a landmark reform bill into law.'
Taylor's family and friends are now looking to the results of a federal probe, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation saying on Saturday its work was moving forward.
'Even though the COVID pandemic presented several unexpected obstacles, FBI Louisville has made significant progress in the investigation,' the field office in that city said in a statement.
Redd Bracey, family friend of Breonna Taylor, wears a mask with a photo of Breonna Taylor on it during the one year anniversary of her death in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Saturday
A woman wears a black leather jacket with 'Breonna Taylor 4 Ever #SayHerName' written in gold on Saturday in New York City
Michael Pyles has a 'B' shaved into his hair during a protest in Louisville on Saturday on the anniversary of Breonna Taylor's death
The bureau remained 'steadfast in its commitment to bringing this investigation to its appropriate conclusion,' the statement said.
The Louisville rally came a day after Kenneth Walker, Taylor's boyfriend, filed a federal lawsuit against the Louisville Metro Police Department, alleging his constitutional rights were violated during last year's botched raid.
Walker last year filed an ongoing state lawsuit against the city and police, saying he was the victim of assault, battery, false arrest and malicious prosecution. He also spoke briefly to the crowd on Saturday.
'They dropped the charges against me, but that is not where we finish,' he said, referring to charges that were filed and later dismissed against him for shooting at the police officers during the incident.
'We got to keep going. Keep going.'
Taylor´s front door was breached by Louisville officers who obtained a controversial no-knock warrant as part of a drug raid. She was asleep with Walker in her apartment around midnight when they heard noise at the door.
Protesters carry Black Lives Matter flags as they march for Breonna Taylor on Jefferson Street in Louisville on Saturday
Tamika Mallory and other members of Until Freedom look out toward a crowd of protesters during a Breonna Taylor memorial protest in Jefferson Square Park on Saturday
Tamika Palmer, mother of Breonna Taylor, and others lead a memorial march for Breonna Taylor near Jefferson Square Park on Saturday
Ysrael Binns, 7, right, holds her fist up with fellow marchers during a protest in downtown Louisville on Saturday
Protesters gathered at Jefferson Square Park in Louisville on Saturday to mark the one-year anniversary of the killing of Breonna Taylor
A truck has a portrait of Breonna Taylor displayed with messaging during a protest in Louisville on Saturday
Walker, believing it was a break-in, fired his gun. One officer was struck, and he and two other officers fired 32 shots into the apartment, striking Taylor five times.
A Kentucky judge last week signed an order permanently closing a criminal case against Walker for firing at the officer.
While Walker said police battered down the door unannounced, the officers insisted they had identified themselves, a claim some witnesses have disputed.
No drugs were found in Taylor´s apartment and two of the officers involved were fired in December.
Linda Sarsour, co-founder of the Until Freedom social justice organization, said the officers need to be held accountable.
'Right now, the only thing that has happened is that the police officers have been fired from the police department, that is a human resources issue. We need justice,' she said.
Taylor's death at first escaped widespread attention, but it suddenly became a focus for Black Lives Matter protesters following Floyd's death on on May 25.
Breonna Taylor was shot and killed in her apartment by police looking for a former friend of hers. Pictured: a man holds a portrait of Breonna Taylor during a march honoring the one year anniversary of her death on Saturday
Linda Sarsour and Tamika Mallory, co-founders of Until Freedom, address demonstrators during a rally in Louisville on Saturday
Ysrael Binns, 7, carries a 'Breewayy' sign on her hover board during a protest in Louisville on Saturday on the anniversary of Breonna Taylor being killed in her apartment
A makeshift memorial at the Louisville demonstration marking the one-year anniversary of Breonna Taylor's shooting death by police
A sign stands in the middle surrounded by other signs and tributes during a protest in downtown Louisville on the anniversary of Breonna Taylor being killed in her apartment
A cross is carried during a protest in downtown Louisville on the anniversary of Breonna Taylor being killed in her apartment
Family members and supporters march in the street during a rally hosted by Family Over Everything honoring Breonna Taylor in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Saturday
To settle a civil suit, Louisville authorities agreed to pay the Taylor family $12 million and initiate police reforms.
For Bascus, that is not enough. It 'doesn't bring Breonna Taylor back.'
Demonstrator Olivia Alexander said the anniversary of Taylor's death reminded her to continue to work for racial justice, despite some setbacks in the past year.
'As we've seen, there´s not been any justice for Breonna Taylor, and a lot of the other brutal killings of Black Americans, so holding onto hope has been the most important thing,' Alexander said.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, tweeted a statement in support of Taylor's family, including her mother, Tamika Palmer.
'Today we remember Breonna Taylor, her tragic and unnecessary loss and the immense work we have ahead of us,' he said.
'I will never understand the unimaginable grief of Tamika Palmer and other family and loved ones, but I am committed to listening and working with others to be build a more suitable and fair commonwealth for every Kentuckian.'
A woman speaks into a megaphone as people gather for a vigil and a march to mark the one year anniversary of Breonna Taylor's killing, in the Brooklyn borough of New York
Eeshyia King attaches 'Black Women Matter' and 'Justice for Breonna Taylor' pins to dozens of red roses left at the entrance to the Flint Police Department by 50 demonstrators marching to honor Breonna Taylor in downtown Flint, Michigan on Saturday
Rashard Wagner, 36 of Flint, holds a single rose before laying it down at the Flint Police Department after nearly 50 demonstrators marched to honor Breonna Taylor on the one-year anniversary of her death on Saturday
People march on the West Side Highway in Manhattan on Saturday in a protest to mark the one year anniversary of Breonna Taylor's death
Hundreds of BLM protesters gathered at the Times Square and marched on streets for Breonna Taylor in New York City, United States on Saturday
Protesters in Times Square wear masks and hold signs for George Floyd and Breonna Taylor on Saturday during a protest
Hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters gathered at Times Square to lie on the ground in a protest for justice regarding the death of Breonna Taylor on Saturday
People participate in a die-in during a New York City protest to mark the one year anniversary of Breonna Taylor's death on Saturday
Hundreds of BLM protesters gathered at the Times Square and marched on streets for Breonna Taylor in New York City on Saturday
Louisville Mayor Greg Fisher said his city has made significant reforms in policies and priorities, but that there was still 'a good deal of work ahead.'
Taylor's 'death resonates still in our city and around the world, underscoring the need to reform systems and act more urgently to advance racial justice and equity,' he said on Twitter.
Tawanna Gordon, a cousin of Breonna Taylor, was pictured receiving flowers during a march in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Saturday. She told WOOD-TV that organizers worked to make sure the march was peaceful.
'There are people that still care,' Gordon said. 'People who do not identify human race as ethnicity or particular color. That's inspiring.'
She added: 'We wanted to acknowledge her legacy and not be in confusion.'
'We don't hate police. We know they're needed,' Gordon said.
'(We) just want (to know) officers they're hiring are there to serve the community, not for self-serving purposes.'
Hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters gathered at the Times Square and marched on streets in Brooklyn and Manhattan for Breonna Taylor in New York City on Saturday.
Protesters were also pictured holding roses at demonstrations in Flint, Michigan, while a car rally traveled down Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky.
