'This is about justice': Events, rallies mark 1-year anniversary of Breonna Taylor's death

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – On March 13, 2020, Breonna Taylor was shot and killed in her home by police officers who broke down her door to serve a search warrant.

One year later, her death and her name continue to drive calls for change  to policing, systemic racism and a host of other issues in i Louisville and cities nationwide.

Events and rallies were scheduled over the weekend in major U.S. cities, including New York, Washington and Atlanta, in honor of the 26-year-old Black woman.

President Joe Biden called Taylor's death a "tragedy" and "a blow to her family, her community, and America" in a tweet posted Saturday afternoon. 

"As we continue to mourn her, we must press ahead to pass meaningful police reform in Congress," he added in the tweet.

In Louisville, hundreds gathered Saturday afternoon in Jefferson Square Park for the Justice for Breonna Taylor rally and march.

Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, and other family members led the rally. 

They were joined by speakers, community organizers and family members of other Americans who died at the hands of police, including relatives of Sean Monterrosa, 22-year-old Latino American who was shot by a police officer in Vallejo, California, in June. Daughters of Danny Ray Thomas, a Black man who was shot and killed by a sheriff's deputy in Houston in 2018,  also were there.

"This is about justice," said Sadiqa Reynolds, CEO of Louisville Urban League. "This is about our power to change this world for our children, for my daughter. This is so we make sure that not another person dies at the hands of the police.”

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A meal distribution program in the park, sponsored by the Breonna Taylor foundation, was also planned for the day. A pop-up mall honoring Black businesses commemorated Taylor. 

The weekend events in honor of Taylor will conclude Sunday with "The People's Empowerment Brunch," which will feature numerous speakers. 

A federal lawsuit against the Louisville Metro Police Department also was announced over the weekend. 

Multiple law firms have joined to file a federal lawsuit against the Louisville Metro Police Department on behalf of Kenneth Walker, Taylor's boyfriend, who was with her the night she was killed. Walker also has a state lawsuit against the city and the police department seeking immunity from prosecution and damages, alleging he was the victim of police misconduct.

The complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky names the department and the officers involved in the raid that led to the fatal shooting of Taylor, according to a news release.

The complaint describes, among other things, "several ill-fated policies and customs of the Louisville Metro Police Department that led to the tragic events of March 13." A copy of the complaint was not immediately available.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear released a statement Saturday morning on Taylor's death.

"Today we remember Breonna Taylor, her tragic and unnecessary loss and the immense work we have ahead of us," Beshear said. "I will never understand the unimaginable grief of Tamika Palmer and other family and loved ones, but I am committed to listening and working with others to build a more equitable and fair commonwealth for every Kentuckian."

The FBI's Louisville field office also released a statement saying it is "actively investigating all aspects of her death and will continue to work diligently until this investigation is completed."

Jefferson Square Park in Louisville, which saw a series of protests last summer after the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, will likely get a marker installed this spring, according to a press release from Mayor Greg Fischer's office. 

The front of the marker will mention the "2020 Racial Justice Protests" and include the following message:

"Built in 1978, Jefferson Square Park memorializes first responders killed in the line of duty. In 2020, it became a rallying place for those demanding justice for Breonna Taylor, a Black woman tragically killed by Louisville Metro Police serving a search warrant. Protesters called this space 'Injustice Square Park' and held demonstrations that drew global attention."

Vincent James, the city’s chief of community building, said the marker "will be a permanent reminder of the challenges we face, as a city and a nation, and the work we’re doing to move our city from tragedy to transformation."

Next week, the city said it will also "work with the families to remove and store memorial items left in the park."