The resurgence of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has reminded us that racism is still rife in contemporary American society. Moreover, the recent decision not to charge Kentucky police officers for the murder of Breonna Taylor depicts the US justice system as one that continuously fails the Black community.
For the last six months, protesters have called for Brett Hankinson, Myles Cosgrove, and Jonathan Mattingly to be brought to justice. These police officers opened fire in Breonna Taylor’s apartment whilst she slept, leading to her death. Breonna’s case aroused anger and pain amongst the American people, not only because she was innocent of any wrongdoing, but also because she was murdered by the very people who were supposed to protect her. Seemingly, those same people are now going to get away with murder.
WANTON ENDANGERMENT
On Wednesday, Brett Hankinson was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment—deliberately engaging in conduct that puts the safety or lives of others in substantial danger. Perhaps what is most shocking about Hankinson’s case, however, is the fact that rather than facing indictment for the murder of Breonna Taylor, he was charged with endangering her three neighbours when he fired rounds that penetrated Taylor’s apartment walls. Taylor’s neighbours—a pregnant woman, her husband, and their five-year-old son—were thankfully not injured, but their unintentional involvement in Hankinson’s verdict has meant that Breonna has still not received justice for being wronged so fatally by the police. The fact that the one indictment in Taylor’s case did not even concern her death is an insult to those looking for closure. Protests erupted in Louisville after no charges were brought to Hankinson, demonstrating the public’s disappointment with the decision.
In Kentucky, wanton endangerment is a class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison. In Mr. Hankinson’s case, bail has been set at $15,000, meaning he has the possibility of being released pending trial. However, in lieu of any criminal charges, Cosgrove and Mattingly will be able to continue their lives as free men despite their alleged hand in Breonna’s murder.
CONTINUING INJUSTICE
The decision not to press murder charges is yet another example of the injustice that Black people face in contemporary America. Tamir Rice, Alton Sterling, and George Floyd are just a few of the Black citizens who have been killed by US police forces since 2014. In almost every case, the victims were not armed, nor were they posing any threat to police or public safety but all were subjected to prejudiced racial profiling with fatal consequences.
Despite Taylor’s case inciting widespread public anger and civil unrest, the system still failed to sanction actionable punishment against the officers who allegedly killed her, demonstrating how US law favours the authorities and consistently fails to protect people of colour. As Daniel Cameron, Kentucky’s Attorney General, went public with the decision not to pursue murder charges, activists took to the streets—as they have done so many times in the past—to criticise and condemn injustice. Their cries were echoed throughout the world, with athletes, celebrities, and business leaders speaking out about the “shameful,” “unjust,” and “disrespectful” decision not to charge the officers involved with murder. US President Donald Trump, however, refused to criticise the outcome, instead praising Cameron for his handling of the trial and emphasising how he has “done more for the Black community than any other president…with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln”.
MODERN DAY RACISM
As the BLM movement continues to build momentum across the US and the rest of the world, it has become clear how much of a role the criminal legal system plays in defining what modern day racism looks like in America. Indeed, six-in-ten Americans believe that race relations under the Trump administration are bad and see little hope of improvement. If a society does not have faith in the law to hold white and Black people accountable for murder in the same way, then a shift towards a fairer, equal society can never happen.
Breonna Taylor’s case has played a vital part in driving Black Lives Matter protests. There was international hope that her attackers would be brought to justice and disappointment over the eventual decision will surely be felt by many. Despite the decision, it is important to remember Breonna Taylor and the impact that her death has had on the fight for justice and equality. Much like how Angela Davis united a worldwide civil rights movement, the Breonna Taylor case will continue to unite BLM supporters around the globe. Although, this time, it feels less of a victory for racial equality, and more of a defeat for the American civil rights movement.
Holly has a Master’s Degree in International Relations from Liverpool Hope University. She has a specific interest in gender equality and wrote her dissertation on role of the female peace movement in modern society as well as recently completing a course in Feminism and Social Justice at UCSC. Having worked for three years as a multilingual foreign news editor, she is pursuing a career in international relations and communication.