Breonna Taylor Statue

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Breonna Taylor Statue in Oakland

Breonna Taylor Statue was erected in December 2020 by Leo Carson honoring Breonna Taylor in downtown Oakland, California. Breonna Taylor, a black woman, was fatally shot by police in Louisville, Kentucky on March 13, 2020, sparking national protests against racial justice and chanted "say her name".

This sculpture was vandalized just two weeks after installation and was stolen two days after.

Background

Breonna Taylor was a 26-year-old black emergency medical technician, who was shot in her apartment in March as police executed a search warrant. Taylor was killed when an officer who enforced a so-called “no-knock warrant” rushed into her apartment door as part of a drug investigation against her ex-boyfriend who was arrested about 10 miles away at the same time. When the police broke into Taylor's door, her boyfriend Kenneth Walker fired a pistol, thinking he had witnessed the invasion of the house. Taylor was unarmed and was killed when the police responded with gunfire, some of which was shot through the windows at the corner where the police tried to enter the apartment. No drugs or drug money were found in the residence.[1]

Breonna Taylor Statue vandalized and stolen

The grand jury refused to directly prosecute the three police officers involved in her death. One of the three police officers was dismissed and charged with three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment related to firing into several apartments during the raid.[2]

Oakland’s ceramic sculpture depicts Taylor's smiling face, with a message on its base that reads: "Say her name: Breonna Taylor." The sculpture artist, Carson made the statue to honor the legacy of the Black Lives Matter movement.[3]

Vandalism

Just two weeks after installation, the sculpture to honor Taylor was smashed. Carson believed it was an act of racism and an act of aggression. Oakland police spokesman confirmed that the incident is considered vandalism and still in investigation.[4][5] And just two days after the incident, the sculpture has been stolen.[6]

The destruction and disappearance of Taylor’s sculpture was a statement of resentment against the Black Lives Matter movement. It was an act of racism and narcissism. Breonna Taylor's Sculpture will be restored and rebuilt with the fundraising that Carson launched.[7]

References

  1. Wood, Josh. ‘This city is hostile’: protesters despair for justice in Breonna Taylor killing. The Guardian September 24, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  2. Ortiz, Erik. A Breonna Taylor sculpture was vandalized. Its artist says it's an 'act of racist aggression.' NBC News December 29, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  3. Breonna Taylor statue smashed in California weeks after installation Published. BBC News December 29, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  4. Toledo, Aldo. Oakland: Sculpture honoring Breonna Taylor smashed to pieces downtown. Times-Herald December 28, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  5. Miller, Hayley. Sculpture Honoring Breonna Taylor Smashed In Oakland. HuffPost December 28, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  6. Fitz-Gibbon, Jorge. Vandalized Breonna Taylor sculpture now missing. New York Post December 31, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  7. Padmanabhan, Jaya. After its hateful destruction, Breonna Taylor’s statue will be restored. Examiner January 10, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.