I don’t know what it’s like to be judged by the color of my skin.

I don’t know what it’s like to be followed by a security guard.

I don’t know what it’s like to feel dismissed by a doctor.

I don’t know what it’s like to not be able to find band-aids or make-up that match my skin or products that work for my hair.

I don’t know what it’s like to not see people who look like me in movies, tv, and books. Especially as the good guys.

I don’t know what it’s like to not know why a cop has pulled me over.

I don’t know what it’s like to be treated violently by police for non-violent offenses. Or to be treated violently for committing no offenses at all.

Here’s what I do know:

I know I love my children. I know that I have never had to have a talk with them about how to interact with police. I know that if they asked someone to leash their dog in a park, the person wouldn’t try to weaponize the police against them.

I know I have benefitted from white privilege for my entire life.

I know that protest and collective anger and collective action works. It’s happening now. And I’m taking action today to demand justice for Breonna Taylor.

Breonna Taylor was an EMT in Louisville, KY working to save lives during the pandemic. She was killed by police in the middle of the night in her own home. She didn’t do anything wrong. Today would have been her 27th birthday.

I am using these action items to demand justice for Breonna (feel free to share widely!): https://msha.ke/30flirtyfilm/

To learn more about who Breonna was, listen to this piece from NPR: https://www.npr.org/2020/06/04/869930040/as-the-nation-chants-her-name-breonna-taylors-family-grieves-a-life-robbed

Sign the petition demanding justice for Breonna here: https://www.change.org/p/andy-beshear-justice-for-breonna-taylor

Copy an paste the script below and send to these people:

1. Thomas B. Wine, Commonwealth Attorney of Jefferson County in Louisville, KY (502) 595-2300 tbwine@louisvilleprosecutor.com
2. Robert Schroeder, Assitant Chief of Police in Louisville, KY robert.schroeder@louisvilleky.gov

Hello, My name is [Your Name]. I am a resident of [City, State] and I am emailing today to demand accountability for the racist murder of Breonna Taylor. I demand that charges be pressed against all officers involved in this heinous killing, including Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and officers Brett Hankison and Myles Cosgrove. They should all be fired, and should be charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for murder. Breonna Taylor was an ER technician, working tirelessly to help others during this global pandemic. She should be alive today. She would be alive today if it were not for the gross abuse of power and white supremacy exhibited by the Louisville Police Department. All officers involved must face consequences for this murder in order to provide her family with justice and to deter law enforcement from committing racist and brutal acts of violence against communities of color. In addition, I demand that we provide more support for community efforts and organizations that work to prevent police brutality and violence. Sincerely, [Your Name]

Happy Birthday Breonna. Your life mattered.