Bryson Tiller is gearing up for the release of his forthcoming album Anniversary, but his mind has been on fellow Louisville native Breonna Taylor.
The TRAPSOUL singer purchased billboards to promote his project, but in the wake of the grand jury’s decision, he chose to honor the late EMT instead.
“Dear Breonna Taylor, you’ve brought the city of Louisville together like I’ve never seen before, and we will never forget you…,” one billboard reads. Another reads, “We love you Breonna Taylor.” The hashtags #JusticeForBreonnaTaylor and #SayHerName also appear on the signs.
Last week, after it was announced none of the officers involved in Taylor’s death would be charged with murder, it triggered memories of Tiller’s experiences with racism, prompting him to get on Twitter and share his thoughts.
“Been doing a lot of thinking about what’s going on in my hometown right now. The blatant racism that I’ve dealt with growing up in Kentucky whether it was at Church Camp or School or just walking down the street and hearing people drive by and yell out racial slurs, i know exactly how it feels,” he wrote. “A lot of us feel like we lost a sister, and many of us feel like it was because of racism…Then, you have the people who are condemning others based on how they feel which… doesn’t feel right at all. Truth is, all we wanted to see was the right thing be done, and here we are feeling wronged once again…Rest easy Queen…we will continue fighting for you.”
Tiller’s gesture wasn’t the first time billboards were dedicated in remembrance of Taylor. Last month, Oprah Winfrey purchased 26 billboards around Louisville, Kentucky to honor every year of life she was alive.
Taylor was fatally shot when officers raided her home using a no-knock warrant back in March. Former detective Brett Hankinson was indicted on wanton endangerment charges, but Sgt. Jonathon Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove walked away with no charges. After issues with Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s presentation of the grand jury’s decision, the records will soon be released to the public.
Look below to see two of the billboards.
Courtesy of Bryson Tiller
Courtesy of Bryson Tiller