Tag: Breonna Taylor

Patriots QB Cam Newton shares his thoughts on Breonna Taylor case

“You just have to side-eye certain situations as an African-American sometimes.”

Many athletes and public figures articulated their outrage with the grand jury’s decision in Kentucky to not arrest any officers in the killing of Breonna Taylor.

Taylor was killed in March during a botched police raid and it led to wide-scale demonstrations and protests. NBA players and public figures around the country advocated for months that the officers who murdered Taylor in her home should should be arrested.

After a 20-minute conversation with reporters on Thursday, New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton added his input on the situation. Newton was calm, collective and a had a lot to say about the final decision in the case.

I hate to be so bland; you just have to side-eye certain situations as an African-American sometimes; well, a lot of times here recently at this country. I believe it was Lamar [Jackson] who just said, this is the land of the free, but in many times than just once have I not felt that that statement applied to people that looked like me. No matter if they’re a citizen, no matter if they’re a police officer, no matter if they’re rich, poor, whatever. Right is right, and wrong is wrong. And at the end of the day, it’s just all about accountability. No matter what your title is, before all or at the end of the day, you’re still a human being. And from one human to another, no matter how you look, no matter how you act, no matter how you whatever; I teach my children to treat everybody with respect, just as it was taught to me. Those are the things that were instilled in me. And just to go out and knowing that you have a big target on yourself when your hair looks the way my hair looks, when, you know, the confidence looks the way my confidence looks, the way I dress, the way I carry myself. That’s in essence, a turn-off to so many different people.

But at the end of the day, what makes your way right and what makes my way right, or what makes my way wrong, and what makes your way wrong. At the end of the day, as human beings, we have to do right and better about each other. And when the Breonna Taylor situation happens, and you see the outcry of Americans just in disbelief, you’re speechless.  But the sacrifices of the Colin Kaepernicks, the Eric Reids, so many different players who have been, in essence, boycotted or kind of blackballed or blackmailed from their specific sport, it makes you kind of question or go back to what I just said, side-eye the whole situation.

It’s like, ‘Well, what’s really going on here?’ I know that’s a lot that I just said; but at the end of the day, I just pray that we all find it in our heart to do better. And no matter what happens on that specific case – because it’s out of pretty much everybody’s hands, outside of the necessary people – let this be like a situation that we all can empathize with.

No matter if you’re going to a grocery store, no matter if you’re going to a gas station. Let’s just do right by people. Us humans alike. So I think that’s pretty much how I feel, that’s my stance; and I just know that we all have a due diligence on this earth to do right by mankind; and I’m just one of those servants that wants to uphold my end of the bargain.

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Charles Barkley criticized for opinions on Breonna Taylor decision, defunding police

Barkley shared his thoughts on Thursday.

Before Game 4 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets’ Western Conference finals, Charles Barkley didn’t hold back on his opinions regarding the grand jury decision over the death of Breonna Taylor, as well as his take on movements to defund or abolish the police.

We know Barkley doesn’t ever hold back. Just last month he spoke about how “The bottom line is it is exhausting being Black, especially when you are a celebrity. You know, I love Tom Brady but nobody asks him about what is going on in white America. Nobody asks Luka Doncic what’s going on in America.”

On Thursday night, Barkley said on Inside the NBA that “we do have to take into account that her boyfriend did shoot at the cops and shot a cop.”

“So, like I said, even though I’m really sad she lost her life,” he continued, “I don’t think this is something we can put in the same situation as George Floyd or Ahmaud Arbery.”

That still ignores some of the details. Per the Washington Post, which gathered the facts from the case that we know, if Taylor and her boyfriend Kenneth Walker didn’t hear police identify themselves and the door was knocked down, how was he to know they were officers? Also worth noting: there are attempts being made by Kentucky state representatives to end no-knock warrants entirely.

Barkley also called for police and prison reform over calls to defund or abolish the police.

This is a reminder that “defund the police” doesn’t mean completely dismantling police departments, but rather use the funding for other programs in communities. The argument against reform is that it’s been attempted, but police brutality and killings of Black people continue.

This is a sampling of some of the response:

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No charges for Breonna Taylor’s killers deeply impacted Celtics, NBA

The Boston Celtics and wider NBA community was deeply affected by the news of no charges against Breonna Taylor’s killers.

While it might not be the reason the Boston Celtics lost Game 4 of their East Finals series against the Miami Heat Wednesday, it was evident the lack of charges brought against the police who killed Louisville, Kentucky EMT Breonna Taylor weighed heavily on the team.

Taylor was killed by police executing a “No-Knock” warrant in March of this year, and the Kentucky District Attorney Daniel Cameron announced he was not planning on pursuing charges against those police, sparking a renewed round of nationwide protests.

Speaking to the media after the game, the topic of the decision from A.D. Cameron was posed to Celtics forward Jaylen Brown.

“It’s tough, to be honest. I wasn’t surprised by the verdict. It’s tough,” Brown added, in emphasis.

“It’s hard to gather the words, but I wasn’t surprised. I think that this society, the way it was built and the way — the intention was to never serve people of color initially, so when they were gearing up for what was about to happen, I knew the wrong decisions is probably being made but it doesn’t surprise me. It doesn’t surprise me at all. Until we dismantle, recreate or change the system that we have, it is going to continue to have victims like Breonna Taylor and others that fall victim to oppression.”

“It was tough getting emotionally ready for a game but to be honest, I wasn’t surprised and we just fell short –that was it,” added the Georgia native.

Brown has taken an active role in protesting police violence against Black and minority citizens throughout the pandemic and subsequent NBA restart, even driving 15 hours to his hometown of Atlanta to protest after the police killing of George Floyd in May.

Celtics head coach Brad Stevens also expressed confusion and displeasure with the decision not to press charges over Taylor’s shooting.

“I think just the idea of going into that apartment doesn’t make any sense, and to have 15 rounds of gunfire fired, five of which hit her,” he observed.

“[The police who fired the shots are to be charged with] “wanton endangerment”, which I didn’t even know existed before today for the charge,” he added, referring to the lesser charge one of the three officers will be charged with for the shots he fired that did not hit Taylor.

“I think it’s tough. At the end of the day, there’s been a call across the country — rightfully so — for more transparency, more accountability, and just a better community relationship. This feels like a setback to that. At the same time, I guess the other side is is you see a lot of cities, a lot of places, really taking steps that should have been taken a long time ago. But at least being taken now to make sure you know whether it’s meeting the initiatives of the “Eight Can’t Wait,” whether it’s committing to civilian review boards, whether it’s better transparency and data, whether it’s diversifying the police force even more to match that of the neighborhood, whatever the case may be.

“This doesn’t feel good today,” he added.

Noting that the team was largely dispersed when the news came down, Stevens related he had made himself available in case any of the players needed to speak to someone about the outcome.

He did not share whether anyone took him up on the offer.

While plenty of words were forthcoming from Stevens and his players both on the topic, one shared sentiment was the difficulty they were having absorbing the reality that, at least for now, there will be no justice for Breonna Taylor.

Former UConn standout and current All-Star starting point guard Kemba Walker was one such player.

“I can’t wrap my head around it, to be honest,” said  the New Yorker when asked about the D.A.’s call not to charge the officers.

“I’m kind of at a loss for words, to be honest with you. It’s a really sad situation. I just really feel bad for her and her family. They definitely deserve more; they deserve justice. And you know it didn’t happen. Which we as a people, we have to stand strong with them and support them as best as we can.”

“So, I wish the best for that family.”

As do we.

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Jalen Rose calls for arrest of officers in Breonna Taylor shooting during NBA playoff broadcast

He spoke out on the air Wednesday night.

Despite sports continuing on Wednesday night, including Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics, a Kentucky grand jury’s decision surrounding the death of Breonna Taylor was very much on the minds of athletes and commentators.

Many people in the sports world took to social media, in disbelief that just one officer was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment and that two other officers weren’t charged at all.

ESPN’s Jalen Rose was on the air during halftime of Game 4, and as their broadcast was going to commercial, he shouted, “it’d also be a great day to arrest the cops that murdered Breonna Taylor.”

Rose also spoke honestly before the game about his feelings and about how athletes might be feeling before playing in their sports with this on their minds:

“When Kyle Rittenhouse in Milwaukee, as a 17-year-old, kills two people and yet three cops aren’t directly charged for killing Breonna Taylor, it shows you how they feel about Black lives in America. So what I want to encourage people to do out there … my favorite sport actually is football. The important thing in that game is field position. So we are starting a game … it’s 400 years of slavery to 0. We know we’re not going to win, but we still got to continue to move the ball forward and put people behind you in a position to be successful.”

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LeBron speaks out on grand jury decision in Breonna Taylor case: ‘I’m devastated’

“We want Justice for Breonna, yet justice was met for her neighbors’ apartment walls and not her beautiful life.”

On Wednesday a Jefferson County, Ky. judge announced that a grand jury had indicted one police officer, for wanton endangerment, in the police shooting that killed Breonna Taylor, a Black woman, in March.

Per USA TODAY, the judge announced that the grand jury indicted former Detective Brett Hankison on three counts of wanton endangerment for firing his weapon into an apartment that was next to Taylor’s.

No charges were brought against Hankinson for the death of Taylor. No charges at all were brought against the two other officers involved in the shooting, Sgt. Jon Mattingly and Det. Myles Cosgrove. The judge announced that the grand jury found that the two were “justified in their use of force.”

After the announcement, Lakers forward LeBron James — who has been vocal on the Taylor case for months — spoke out on social media, and apologized to her family.

“I’m devastated, hurt, sad, mad!” he wrote, adding that “justice was met for her neighbors’ apartment walls and not her beautiful life.”

Protests erupted in the streets of Louisville following the decision. Two police officers were shot overnight, but both are expected to recover.

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Sixers F Tobias Harris reacts to Breonna Taylor ruling in Louisville

Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris reacts to the Breonna Taylor ruling.

A lot of the messages from the Philadelphia 76ers inside the bubble focused on justice for Breonna Taylor as Tobias Harris has been a leader for social justice for the team repeatedly calling for Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron to have justice for Taylor.

Taylor was killed by police while sleeping in her bed and on Wednesday her case was brought to the courts in Louisville, Kentucky. The three police officers involved in the shooting were brought before the court and only one of them, Brett Hankison, has been charged with three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment. The other two officers were not indicted and Hankinson’s bail was set for $15,000.

It was a ruling that upset almost everybody as they only charged Hankison for endangering the other people in the apartment and Harris was one of those people who was upset.

View this post on Instagram

♠️😪♠️

A post shared by Tobias Harris (@tobiasharris) on

It is just another unfortunate chapter in America’s history of police brutality. It is moments such as this one why Matisse Thybulle pushes the importance of voting in America and pushing for change. [lawrence-related id=37874,37858,37849]

LeBron James shows support for Breonna Taylor, Black women

LeBron James vented on twitter and also wanted to call attention to the Black women who have helped him in his life.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James struggled all day to find the appropriate words for the news out of Louisville, Kentucky on Wednesday that the one police officer, who was involved in the murder of Breonna Taylor, was charged with a crime that had nothing to do with Taylor’s death. James declined to talk with reporters on Wednesday but later on when he felt comfortable, James expressed his feelings of support for Black women as well as his disappointment at the lack of real accountability in the murder of Breonna Taylor.

James shared all of those feelings on Wednesday night while the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat played in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

James and several other players in the NBA have expressed their disappointment with the lack of any charges directly connected to Taylor’s murder, in her own home and her own bed. This also won’t be the last we hear of the case as the NBA Bubble is only three weeks away from completion.

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LeBron James posts that he’s ‘so, so sorry’ for Breonna Taylor

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James did not speak to media, but he shared his feelings about Breonna Taylor on Wednesday.

LeBron James declined to speak to reporters on Wednesday after the Lakers practiced, but the decision not to take questions likely had less to do with the Lakers being up 2-1 in the Western Conference Finals and more to do with the recent news out of Louisville, Kentucky.

A grand jury indicted former officer Brett Hankinson, one of the three officers who allegedly shot and killed Breonna Taylor while she slept in her bed, on charges of “wanton endangerment,” related to potential damages the shooting could have caused instead of the death of Taylor. The verdict, which doesn’t apply responsibility to anyone for Taylor’s death, has angered many around the country. James was one of the angered, posting that he’s “so sorry,” for the lack of justice involved in Taylor’s murder.

via @KingJames

LeBron is rightfully upset that the charges brought to only one of the officers don’t hold anybody responsible for the death of Taylor, in her own home. He has been active in trying to prevent voter suppression, but the lack of any real justice in the Taylor case is a disheartening blow to anybody who hopes for equality in the United States.

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Jamal Crawford reacts to grand jury’s ruling on officers involved in Breonna Taylor’s death

NBA players continue to speak on the death of Breonna Taylor following the grand jury’s ruling on the officers involved in her death.

As the Black Lives Matter movement jumped to the forefront in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and the stoppage of all sports, one of the names mentioned frequently was Breonna Taylor. She was a Black medical worker who was shot and killed by Louisville police officers in March during a raid of her apartment.

After the NBA resumed the 2019-20 season, players remained in contact with Taylor’s family and continued to say her name during interviews and press conferences, no matter the subject being discussed.

After Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced the grand jury’s ruling on Wednesday that polic officer Brett Hankison has been charged with three counts of “wanton endangerment” and the other two officers involved were “justified in their return of deadly fire,” NBA players took to Twitter, Brooklyn Nets guard Jamal Crawford being one of them:

I know they didn’t think paying money to Breonna Taylor’s family was enough. Justice is worth more…

But that was just the beginning for Crawford:

They’re trying to say they are wrong in every way except, in admitting the MURDER OF BREONNA TAYLOR!

He continued:

The cops that murdered Breonna Taylor knew this is how it would play out from the moment it happened. They were never worried about justice being served.

Crawford also added:

In every way, they try and remind us Black lives don’t matter.. We will ALWAYS matter!!!!!

RELATED: Jamal Crawford questions Donald Trump supporters following release of Woodward book excerpts

Jaylen Brown skeptical Breonna Taylor’s killers will be charged

Boston Celtics star forward Jaylen Brown shared his skepticism Tuesday on the odds the police who killed Breonna Taylor will be charged.

With a decision set to come soon from the local District Attorney about whether to charge the police involved in the shooting death of Louisville, Kentucky Emergency Medical Technician Breonna Taylor, the weight of being away from that particular struggle has been on Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown’s mind.

Speaking to the media during Tuesday’s availability session, the Georgia native opened up about how the case was an issue of concern for Brown.

It’s tough,” he began, “because it seems like they’re gearing up for the decision that I disagree with. We’ll see what the ultimate outcome is I guess later today.”

“But to be honest, I think that’s what is a problem,” added Brown.

“I think that’s where the disconnect is, that people don’t see an issue like the death of Breanna Taylor. And so [to] a lot of people, the issue is so evident and so clear, and I don’t see how people can miss it. So, that’s something that definitely can throw your balance off. You’re talking about balancing — that’s something that’s going on in the real world that can throw your balance off in terms of you being here, and you playing basketball and being in the playoffs because not only does that directly affect people women of color, etc.”

“You can’t help but think of … people that you’re close to that could possibly go and see similar situations and [the] outcome would be the same,” he explained.

There has been police reforms agreed to as part of the civil settlement awarded to Taylor’s family — including changes to the “No-Knock” warrants that ultimately led to her death by police shooting.

But for Brown, the double standard he sees in the representation of Taylor’s situation a problem unto itself.

“I think there was obvious wrong doing there, that’s the reason why Kentucky or Louisville banned the “No-Knock [warrants] more, because they know that that isn’t okay to just break into somebody’s house or bust in regardless of who you are, not making yourself [known as police]. You look at “Stand Your Ground” laws, I don’t see too much of a difference. Now if you’re a threat, or somebody’s breaking into your place, we look at George Zimmerman, he was commended for some of those things … and Breonna Taylor’s [case is] looked at is different.”

“So, that’s something that can definitely throw your balance off in terms of being in a bubble,” Brown suggested. “I’m curious I guess to see what the ultimate decision is, but I will not be surprised.”

While we don’t have a precise timetable for the announcement from the Kentucky District Attorney, it is expected in the next day or so — potentially sparking significant protests in the area and perhaps nationwide, depending on the outcome.

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