The Breonna Taylor Verdict has Broken our Hearts
By: Anastasia Reesa Tomkin
Tags: Protest, Racism, Justice, Police Brutality, BlackLivesMatter

The Breonna Taylor Verdict has Broken our Hearts

It may go down as one of the most devastating verdicts of our time

Photo Cred: Breonna Taylor’s family

It may go down as one of the most devastating verdicts of our time.

On the chilly afternoon of Wednesday 23rd September 2020, we did not receive justice for Breonna Taylor.

We anticipated it, when we saw that Daniel Cameron, the Attorney General of Louisville, Kentucky, was a proud Trump supporter, and was given the opportunity to speak at the Republican National Convention. We expected it when we saw that it took several months to get to this decision. It was clear when they barricaded the streets days ahead of the announcement, and when they unleashed swarms of riot-gear clad police hours before the verdict was read.

And we remember the colossal national and global outcry it took to get here.

We remember how even the influence of the most powerful black celebrities, coupled with the voices of millions of average citizens was not enough to give Breonna’s life the justice she deserved. For the first time in 20 years, Oprah Winfrey did not appear on the cover of her “O” magazine; the September 2020 issue featured an image of Breonna Taylor instead. From Alicia Keys to Lebron James, from young sports champ Naomi Osaka to the most recognizable global superstar Beyoncé - brown-skinned people with more wealth than most of us could ever hope to see, used their platform and power to bring light to Breonna Taylor’s case.

Renowned activist Tamika Mallory organized sit-in protests at the AG’s house in an attempt to urge him to stop dragging his feet on arresting and prosecuting the murderous cops. He had over 80 of the protesters arrested and charged.

In contrast, only one of the three officers deemed responsible for Breonna Taylor’s murder will be charged, not for manslaughter as the family of the deceased wanted, not even for anything related to this young woman’s death — Brett Hankison will face 3 counts of “Wanton Endangerment”, for the bullets he fired having struck the walls of neighboring apartments, carrying a maximum of 5 years in prison.

There are simply no words to describe the collective indignation we are feeling.

This outcome does not stay in the realm of world news. It seems to be a reinforcement to each person, no matter their views, that black life is not to be valued or respected. In the midst of such a critical moment in history, when we hold our breaths for the revelation of who the next President will be, this outcome is a cruel reminder that those in power will do whatever it takes to keep us subjugated. Oppressive white landlords have seen this. Racist white bosses and supervisors have seen this. Every white person in this country, in whatever position of power they hold, big or small, real or imagined, has just been told that their supremacy reigns uncontested and supported by the worlds’ biggest empire. Every person of color who has decided to align with white supremacy has also seen this, and is encouraged to keep assimilating to the fullest extent possible.

All this, after we have exhausted our energy trying to ignore Trump, rally voters, survive a pandemic, fulfil work and school requirements, resist oppression at our jobs, press through ordinary racist encounters, and be hopeful for small victories that will keep us going. Small victories like the one we have now been shamelessly denied.

While prominent anti-racist leaders assert that the fight is not over, that we will regroup and justice will be served, I must humbly admit that my faith has faltered. I am absolutely crushed by the disappointment, perhaps a little mortified by the entire situation. Millions of people rallied and cried out and resisted in a way that has never been done before, but the storm raged on willfully deaf ears.

It was Breonna Taylor today, but tomorrow it could be any one of us.

The State will always protect itself and its agents of destruction. Justice is being held hostage by an inherently evil system, and at this point, only God can deliver it.