Rush Statement on Grand Jury Decision in Murder of Breonna Taylor

CHICAGO — Today, U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) released the following statement after the announcement that the grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky had reached a decision:

“I find myself dismayed, but, unfortunately, not in disbelief, at today’s decision to merely indict one of the officers involved in the senseless killing of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky with three counts wanton endangerment, a class D felony.  Today’s decision is yet another reminder of how much more work our country must do if it is to truly value Black lives.  With its decision today, the Grand Jury is sending a message that Black Americans may be gunned down in their own apartments by those sworn to serve and protect, and that the rogue officers responsible may never be held accountable.  The charges brought against former Louisville Metro Police Department officer Brett Hankinson by the Grand Jury today do not come close to serving justice for Breonna Taylor.

“It was determined in June by Louisville’s interim police chief that the sole charged officer, Brett Hankinson, demonstrated “an extreme indifference to the value of human life” at Breonna Taylor’s apartment that dreadful night.  The corresponding charge in no way fits the interim police chief’s conclusions.  It is also a tragic injustice that his fellow officers will not see a trial for their roles in a confrontation that resulted in the unnecessary death of a 26-year-old woman.

“Today’s decision to only charge one officer lightly and not to charge the other officers involved in Ms. Taylor’s death highlights the difficulty of criminally charging police officers who by commit egregious misconduct in the line of duty.  Unfortunately, today’s grand jury decision is reflective of a pattern of our justice system failing to hold police accountable, as it also failed to do in the cases of Alton Sterling, Eric Garner, and Laquan McDonald.  All of those working towards a more just, equitable, and accountable system of policing will always have my full support.

“I implore the people of Louisville and those across the country to use their well-justified and righteous anger to work towards ending police brutality and ensuring that rogue officers face serious legal consequences for their actions.  I also want to call on the Senate to pass the George Floyd Justice in Police Act, which would ban no-knock warrants like the one that killed Breonna Taylor.”

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