The Breonna Taylor Decision Isn't Surprising; But It Still Hurts

By: Mariah Muhammad

On Monday afternoon, Brett Hankison, the only officer to be fired, and eventually indicted in the murder of Breonna Taylor, pleaded not guilty on all charges. 

All three round up to wanton endangerment in the first degree, after a statement by the Chief of the Louisville Metro Police Department accused Hankison of ‘blindly’ firing 10 rounds into the apartment.  If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison. 

From released officer body footage from the incident to grand jury deliberations set to be publicized soon, the Breonna Taylor case is one that keeps unraveling. 

Waking up today, I am still in disbelief. When the news was first announced, there was immediate backlash from both the African American community and its allies.  As protesting begins anew and demands for justice grow louder, activists from all over the world shout her name. 

Although the city of Louisville agreed to pay Taylor's family $12 million, nothing less than an actual conviction feels like true justice. The entire situation is more than unfortunate, and the nation has divided itself even more on what the outcome should’ve been. 

As a young Black woman, it is tough to separate myself from what is going on in the world. Racial tensions are running at an all time high, and the pressure of being - and staying - alive as a Black person in America is at its peak. 

Although our generation wasn’t around to witness slavery, segregation, or even the Jim Crow era, we are currently dealing with the dregs of old policies and the claws of undercover racism.  Simultaneously, the Black community is becoming closer and more robust the longer we have to stick together, in order to bring justice to our murdered brothers and sisters.

I should be used to unjust rulings, and being disappointed with the law, but this is one that will forever remain in my memory.  Knowing that thousands of people in America are demanding justice for her now might mean something, but the pain of losing a loved one to police violence is something that is never forgotten.

While I also grieved over the deaths of Elijah Mcclain, George Floyd, and Rayshard Brooks, grieving over Breonna Taylor feels different. She felt like a family member or a friend. 

She felt like me.