Dear friend,
Breonna Taylor worked in an emergency room in Louisville, Ky, risking her life every day to help people during the COVID-19 pandemic. She had big plans for her future, including becoming a nurse, buying a house, and starting a family.1
But late one night in March, as Breonna slept, police dressed in plain clothes broke through her home's front door without identifying themselves and killed Breonna in a hail of bullets.
The actions of the police in Breonna's killing were every bit as senseless and brutal as in the killing of George Floyd. She had done nothing wrong. But unlike in Minneapolis, none of the officers involved in Breonna's killing have been arrested or even fired.
With the country rising up against police violence, we CAN get justice for Breonna--but her death simply hasn't gotten the attention it should. So we're raising money now to launch an all-out PR offensive, including a mobile billboard, a double-page centerfold ad in the Louisville Courier-Journal, and an airplane bearing the message, "Breonna was essential," while we continue to support the local organizers on the ground.
Breonna was sleeping in her bed when her partner, Kenneth Walker, rushed to the living room to confront intruders breaking down their door. The intruders turned out to be police officers, in plain clothes, barging in without announcing their identity, who later claimed they were looking for a person who was already found miles away. Kenneth had no way of knowing that, and he thought he and Breonna were being assaulted by armed intruders. He fired his licensed firearm to protect himself and Breonna, and the police responded by spraying the apartment with bullets.2
Breonna was shot eight times in her own home. The police officers that murdered Breonna are still walking free.
Protests have raged in Louisville demanding justice for Breonna, but the police have responded by soaking the protesters in pepper spray and killing a beloved small business owner, David McAtee.3
The pressure is working, however. Two of the protesters' demands have been met : charges against Kenneth have been dropped, and Kenneth's 911 call recording has been released.4 But we need to keep working to bring together as many voices as possible, until the officers who murdered Breonna are charged.
After months of work, Breonna's case is finally starting to break through in the national press. City officials and the Louisville Police Department leadership are feeling major pressure. We're on the verge of a breakthrough, and a big, local multi-media ad push could be just what's needed.
We need to raise $22,342 to fund our full plan, including a mobile billboard, a centerfold ad in the Louisville newspaper, and an airplane flying over one of the protests. Will you donate $5 ?
Shaunna, Kat, Kathy, Anathea, Melody, Pam, Lindsay, Sonja, Kimberly, Maria, Elisa, and Katie, the UltraViolet team.
Sources :
1. 'Get your damn story straight': What we know about Louisville woman Breonna Taylor's death, USA Today, May 14, 2020
2. Ibid.
3. LMPD officer in fatal shooting of David McAtee had mocked protester on Facebook, Louisville Courier Journal, June 2, 2020
4. 911 call from Breonna Taylor's shooting death released: "Somebody kicked in the door and shot my girlfriend", CBS News, March 29, 2020
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire