CLEVELAND — Dozens of protesters rallied Wednesday night in Downtown Cleveland following a Kentucky grand jury’s decision not to charge the Louisville officers connected to Breonna Taylor's death. 

 

What You Need To Know

  • The decision not to file murder charges against police officers involved in the death of Breonna Taylor reignited protests in Cleveland

  • Protesters called for justice in emotional speeches delivered by leaders of several activist groups

  • Activists say they are motivated now more than ever to seek reform

 

The state’s attorney general had announced earlier Wednesday that former officer Brett Hankison would be charged with wanton endangerment for his actions the night 26-year-old Taylor was killed. Those charges, however, were not directly related to her death.

In Northeast Ohio, protesters gathered at the iconic Free Stamp in downtown Cleveland. Leaders of several advocacy groups including Black Lives Matter Cleveland delivered emotional speeches about work that still needs to be done nationwide and within the city of Cleveland. Organizers expressed that they were now motivated more than ever before to demand justice for those killed by police officers.

"Enough is enough. Breonna Taylor, our sister's death, will not be in vain,” said LaTonya Goldsby, the co-founder of Black Lives Matter Cleveland. “We will continue to uplift her name and her story and demand real true justice for her murder and all the murders of Black lives, bcause Black lives matter! Black lives matter!"

 


Taylor was fatally shot in March in her apartment while police were executing a warrant.

 

The protest in Cleveland was one of several that occurred in Ohio. There were also protests in Columbus and Cincinnati. Demonstrations in Louisville continued late in the night. Two officers were shot as the city approached curfew. The decision also made waves in other major cities like New York City, Chicago and Philadelphia, with protesters taking to the streets.