What to Know
- Demonstrators marched around City Hall in Philadelphia Wednesday evening to protest a Kentucky grand jury’s decision in the Breonna Taylor case.
- A Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police for the killing of Taylor during a drug raid gone wrong, with prosecutors saying Wednesday that two officers who fired their weapons at the Black woman were justified in using force to protect themselves after they were shot at.
- The only charges brought by the grand jury were three counts of wanton endangerment against fired Officer Brett Hankison for shooting into Taylor’s neighbors’ homes during the raid on the night of March 13.
Demonstrators gathered in Philadelphia Wednesday evening to protest a Kentucky grand jury’s decision in the Breonna Taylor case.
The protest began in Center City around 7 p.m. with a group of around 150 people walking in a circle around City Hall.
The group later stood in the middle of 15th and Market streets, blocking traffic while holding up signs and chanting. They then marched down Broad Street around 8 p.m.
Three of the protesters told NBC10 they see themselves in Taylor.
"She was a young Black lady, we are young Black ladies," one of the protesters said. "You don't want to be scared everyday about your safety. Police are supposed to protect us."
Mayor Jim Kenney responded to the grand jury decision on Twitter, writing that he understood people's anger but urged potential protesters to remain peaceful.
The protesters told NBC10 they wouldn't stop spreading their message until significant changes were made in the system.
"They didn't even charge that man for what he did to her and it's wrong," one protester said. "It's wrong. She deserves to be alive today. He should not be able to go free because she's dead."
At one point during the protest, two vandals were seen spray-painting an anti-police slogan on a garage door. NBC10's Aaron Baskerville filmed protesters yelling at the vandals and pushing them away.
A Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police for the killing of Taylor during a drug raid gone wrong, with prosecutors saying Wednesday that two officers who fired their weapons at the Black woman were justified in using force to protect themselves after they were shot at.
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The only charges brought by the grand jury were three counts of wanton endangerment against fired Officer Brett Hankison for shooting into Taylor’s neighbors’ homes during the raid on the night of March 13. The FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case.
Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white officers who entered her home on a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation — although state Attorney General Daniel Cameron said Wednesday the investigation showed the officers did announce themselves before entering. The warrant used to search her home was connected to a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside.
Along with the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, Taylor’s case became a major touchstone for the nationwide protests that have gripped the nation since May — drawing attention to entrenched racism and demanding police reform. Taylor’s image has been painted on streets, emblazoned on protest signs and silk-screened on T-shirts worn by celebrities. Several prominent African American celebrities have joined those urging that the officers be charged.
Protests occurred in cities across the country Wednesday night. In downtown Louisville, two police officers were shot during a protest. Both officers are in stable condition and a suspect is in custody.
