Celebrities are responding to the grand jury’s decision to indict one of the three officers involved in Breonna Taylor’s death.
Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT, was fatally shot while in her Louisville home back in March when former detective Brett Hankinson, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove entered her home using a no-knock warrant. More than six months since her passing, the grand jury’s reports were presented, charging Hankinson with three counts of wanton endangerment. Neither Mattingly or Cosgrove were indicted.
“What is most insulting is that the recommended charges aren’t even in response to the MURDER of Breonna Taylor, but to the POTENTIAL injury of other people in the apartment,” Yard Shahidi penned in a tweet.
“Daniel Cameron is on Donald Trump’s short list as replacement of #RGB (Ruth Bader Ginsburg) on the Supreme Court,” Kerry Washington wrote. “The same man who decided to not charge the officers responsible for killing #BreonnaTaylor. Vote.”
Common posted a series of tweets in response to the grand jury’s decision, one of which quoted the late James Baldwin. “To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a state of rage almost all of the time,” he wrote.
Big Sean also expressed his thoughts, tweeting, “I see the system won’t fight for you, so WE gotta fight for you.”
Stacey Abrams said “the lack of justice for her (Taylor’s) murder is inexcusable,” and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot called for a moment of silence in her memory. Senator Cory Booker and NBA players Jamal Crawford and Danny Green also shared their thoughts on the decision announced earlier today (Sept. 23).
Celebrities have long been vocal in demanding justice for Taylor often using their platform to ensure her name was not forgotten. Most recently, Regina King and Uzo Aduba, both winners at the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards, wore shirts in honor of the late EMT as they made their acceptance speeches.
Check out reactions from Ella Mai, Big Sean, Kerry Washington and more below.