Breonna Taylor’s family attorney calls for ‘peaceful protests in her name’

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump on Thursday called on people to “show Breonna the ultimate respect by having peaceful protests in her name” following massive demonstrations Wednesday in response to a Louisville, Ky., grand jury decision. 

In an interview on ABC’s “The View” Thursday, the lawyer representing Taylor’s family was asked by show co-host Sunny Hostin what message the attorney would have for “people out there that are devastated and saddened and upset” by the announcement on Wednesday that a grand jury would not bring any charges against police officers in the March killing of the 26-year-old Black woman in her own apartment. 

“We understand their righteous anger, because we feel it too,” Crump replied. “But as Breonna’s family has asked, as her mother, Tamika, has asked, please demonstrate peaceful protests.”

“She [Tamika] said that Breonna would not condone violence,” Crump continued. “And so, we want to honor Breonna’s legacy, we want to respect Breonna, especially now when she wasn’t respected in this grand jury proceeding. Let’s show Breonna the ultimate respect by having peaceful protests in her name.” 

Breonna Taylor’s family attorney Ben Crump calls for peaceful protests only: “Respect Breonna, especially now when she wasn’t respected in this grand jury proceeding. Let’s show Breonna the ultimate respect by having peaceful protests in her name.” https://t.co/HV6VdzmJSi pic.twitter.com/PHLbdiUltt

— The View (@TheView) September 24, 2020

Crump’s remarks come after 127 people were arrested by Louisville police Wednesday night as protests broke out following the grand jury decision. The police department also confirmed that two officers were shot amid the protests less than an hour before a countywide curfew was set to start. 

Wednesday’s grand jury decision sparked national outrage, with many believing that officers should have been faced with charges directly related to Taylor’s death. The grand jury did indict one officer, Brett Hankison, with three counts of wanton endangerment for shots from his weapon that went into surrounding apartments. 

Crump took to Twitter following the announcement, calling the grand jury’s decision “outrageous and offensive.” 

“If Brett Hankison’s behavior was wanton endangerment to people in neighboring apartments, then it should have been wanton endangerment in Breonna Taylor’s apartment too,” Crump said in the tweet. “In fact, it should have been ruled wanton murder!” 

Last week, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer (D) said that the city had reached a $12 million settlement with Taylor’s family. The deal is the largest settlement the city has paid in a police misconduct case.