Shouting the now familiar refrains, “Say Her Name,” and “No Justice, No Peace,” a group of about 20 marched in Downtown Memphis Wednesday evening to denounce a grand jury’s decision not to charge officers for the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor.
Taylor’s death in Louisville, along with that of George Floyd in Minnesota, galvanized weeks—and in some cities, months—of national racial justice protests this summer, including in Memphis. Taylorwas shot several times by officers serving a no-knock warrant on her apartment as part of a narcotics investigation.
None of the three officers involved in the raid were charged for her death, although one officer faces prosecution for wanton endangerment for shooting into her neighbor’s apartment. Kentucky’s attorney general said theofficers used their weaponsin self-defense after Taylor’s boyfriend shot an officer because he thought the apartment was being broken into.
Memphis protesters said justice was not served.
“In 2020, it should not look like this anymore, and that’s where I’m at, I’m just tired,” said activist LJ Abraham, who led the roughly two-hour demonstration from the National Civil Rights Museum to Beale Street and back.
At times the crowd blocked light traffic on Main Street and sneered at officers stationed on Beale Street. Several police cars arrived at the end of the demonstration to redirect cars as the marchers made their way back to the museum.
Protester Latoya Chatman said the grand jury’s decision was reflective of deeper inequalities for Black people and a lack of value placed on their lives.
“We just want the same opportunities; that’s literally all we’re fighting for is the same opportunities,” she said.