Breonna Taylor Investigation By Justice Dept. Finds Pattern Of Discriminatory Policing In Louisville

BYCole Blake371 Views
Link Copied to Clipboard!
Louisville Prepares For Possible Unrest As Grand Jury Decision In Breonna Taylor Case Nears
LOUISVILLE, KY - SEPTEMBER 21: Tamika Palmer, mother of Breonna Taylor, poses for a portrait in front of a mural of her daughter at Jefferson Square park on September 21, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Demonstrators gathered to prepare for possible unrest in wake of the Grand Jury decision regarding the officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor. Taylor was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police officers during a no-knock warrant at her apartment on March 13, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Demonstrators have occupied the park for 118 days. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
The Justice Department has found a pattern of discriminatory policing in Louisville in the wake of Breonna Taylor's death.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland has confirmed that there exists a pattern of discriminatory policing practices in the city of Louisville, Kentucky. He announced in a press conference on Wednesday that a Justice Department report found the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government and Louisville Metro Police Department “engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of their rights under the Constitution and federal law.” The department launched the investigation in response to the killing of Breonna Taylor in 2020.

“This conduct is unacceptable, it is heartbreaking,” Garland said. “It erodes the community trust necessary for effective policing and it is an affront to the vast majority of officers who put their lives on the line every day to serve Louisville with honor.”

Merrick Garland's Announcement

US Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during a press conference on the Justice Department's findings of the civil rights investigation into the Louisville Metro Police Department and Louisville Metro Government on March 8, 2023, in Louisville, Kentucky. - The investigation stems from the March 13, 2020, killing of Breonna Taylor by police officers serving a no-knock warrant. (Photo by LUKE SHARRETT / AFP) (Photo by LUKE SHARRETT/AFP via Getty Images)

The report states that the Louisville police department “discriminates against Black people in its enforcement activities.” It also uses excessive force and conducts searches based on invalid warrants. The report further cites violations of the rights of people engaged in protected speech in reference to protests in the city in the summer of 2020 after Taylor’s death. Police shot and killed the 26-year-old during a raid on her apartment after midnight on March 13, 2020.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said the city still “has wounds" that have yet to heal. We have to come to terms with where we’ve been, so we can get to where we want to be." An attorney for the family of Breonna Taylor, Sam Aguiar, said in a statement responding to the news: “The department has damaged so many lives with little to no accountability. And our local prosecutors have not done a damn thing to assure that criminals with badges are treated like the criminals that they are."

[Via]

About The Author
Cole Blake
Cole Blake is a current staff writer at HotNewHipHop based out of New York City. He began writing for the site as an intern back in 2018 while finishing his B.A. in Journalism at St. John’s University. In the time since, he’s covered a number of breaking stories for HNHH. These include the ongoing YSL RICO trial, the allegations surrounding Diddy, and much more. His work also extends outside of hip-hop, having written extensively about a myriad of topics including politics, sports, and pop culture. He’s attended several music festivals to provide coverage for the site as well, such as Rolling Loud and Governors Ball.
...