LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Where do we go from here?
It’s the million-dollar question everyone is focusing on after more than a week of rallies calling for justice nearly three months after 26-year-old Breonna Taylor was killed when police executed a late night no-knock warrant at her apartment.
Thousands gathered outside Metro Hall Saturday with balloons and signs showing the fallen EMT’s family support, one day after what would have been her 27th birthday.
“There was people a long time ago that did this for us and I just feel like it’s right to do that for those that’s coming behind us," supporter, Jahri Jackson said.
Speakers that took the stage include Congressman John Yarmuth, community activist Chris 2X, Muhammad Ali's cousin, Sean Ali Waddell and civil rights activist, Reverend Jesse Jackson. The group prayed, sang 'Happy Birthday' and released balloons and butterflies to honor Taylor.
“We miss her so much," Taylor's aunt, Bianca Austin said. "I just want y’all to understand like I’ve never experienced a pain and let me tell you something this ain’t even my own child.” Austin said she is grateful to see a village behind them.
Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker hiked the steps of Metro Hall to stand beside the family of the woman he was supposed to marry.
“What about being a Black man in this country and not get a position to protect the woman you love?" President and CEO of Louisville Urban League, Sadiqa Reynolds said. "We are tired!"
The demonstrations are calling on leaders at the local and state levels for change and it’s even led Mayor Greg Fischer to call for top to bottom reviews at the Metro Police Department.
“The only way it looks like America is going to wake up – White America – White Louisville, is for people to continue to do what they’re doing so we can see the kind of change we want to see,” Mayor Fischer said.
Fischer told demonstrators that he will do everything that he could as mayor under state and federal law to “take care of business.”
“I will do everything I can to advocate with state government for changes at that level as well because unfortunately, so much of that tells us what we can do,” he said.
Louisville Metro Council’s Public Safety Committee recently approved “Breonna’s Law,” an ordinance designed to regulate and provide guidelines for Metro Police’s use of no-knock warrants.
The celebration of life for Breonna ended with a rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Happy Birthday" and a balloon release.
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