Louisville Metro Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith released the following statement regarding Breonna Taylor, “Breonna’s Legacy,” and “Breonna’s Law.”
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
These are challenging times for all of us and frightening times for many. We seem to be going from one crisis to another. As unsettling as it is, we must reach into the depths of our souls and pull out what we are made of. We are One Soul bound to this life together. My heart is heavy today as I think about the pain and agony so many people are feeling.
Breonna Taylor – we must say her name. My heart bleeds for Breonna’s family and for the seven people shot last night in downtown Louisville. Responding to violence with more violence is not acceptable and must not be tolerated. One person’s right to speak, to assemble, to carry a gun, ends where another human being’s life and safety are at risk.
Some people are calculating the cost of property damage done by protesters last night. When are we going to calculate the cost of damage done to our black brothers and sisters during 400 years of racism and institutional oppression in this country? The time is long past. We must change our laws – now!
Breonna lived to save lives – may she rest in peace. We shall not rest until we know the truth and justice is served.
You may ask, what will Breonna’s Legacy be? She was a beautiful soul who trained and worked as an Emergency Technician and as a First Responder as soon as the global pandemic hit our city. She lived to save lives – everyday. May she rest in peace.
We shall not rest until we know the truth and until justice is served.
You may ask, what can be done to stop the killing? A recent report revealed there are on the average 1,100 police killings each year in our country. Our citizens have a right to expect the police to follow common sense standards of behavior and tactics as they enforce the laws to protect us – ALL of us. An Ordinance setting out these standards will help guarantee this right.
Councilwoman Jessica Green and I filed an Ordinance regulating “no-knock” search warrants and the use of body cameras during all search warrants. Our goal is to SAVE LIVES – the lives of our citizens and the lives of our sworn police officers. We are in the process of amending this Ordinance to include more restrictions and will begin discussing it in the Metro Council Public Safety Committee next week.
I am listening to the community and have taken the time to hear many requests, opinions and perspectives related to community and police engagement. Representatives from various advocacy groups have reached out to me. I have been provided copies of communications sent to Mayor Fischer from the Louisville Urban League and from the Interdenominational Ministerial Coalition (IMC).
In the four-page letter from the Louisville Urban League signed by Sadiqa Reynolds and 16 others, it is clearly stated, “We want the immediate end to the issuance and execution of no-knock warrants except in the circumstance of kidnapping, murder, or similar exigent circumstance, to be defined and outlined in police policy.”
ACTION TAKEN: The following language is being written for inclusion in the Ordinance regulating “no-knock” warrants:
No-Knock Warrants may only be used in cases involving imminent threat of harm or death to police and/or to civilians and, specifically, cases involving the following offenses: Murder, Kidnapping, Terrorism, Human and Sexual Trafficking.
In the five-page document received from the Interdenominational Ministerial Coalition (IMC) joined by EMPOWER West Louisville, the requests are clearly stated including, “We call for the establishment of a review board with subpoena power in Louisville Metro and ask all our elected leaders state their support for the creation of this board and take action to create and enable it.”
ACTION TAKEN: I fully support the creation of a Citizen Review Board and an Office of Inspector General with subpoena power. I fully support my fellow Council Members who have agreed to serve on the work group responsible for defining this oversight in Louisville Metro.
Working together seeking common ground, I am confident we will create laws in our community that protect our citizens and save lives.
This becomes Breonna’s Law. She lived to save lives and we shall work to save lives in her memory.
Please join me in celebrating Breonna’s Legacy and fighting for Breonna’s Law.
Together today — Stronger tomorrow!
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