Celebs demand justice for Breonna Taylor more than 150 days after her death

It has now been more than five months since Breonna Taylor was shot and killed by three police officers while sleeping in her bed. Despite public outrage, none of the three officers involved—Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison and Myles Cosgrove—have been arrested in for the horrific death of the 26-year-old emergency room technician. In an effort to continue to #SayHerName and prevent the public from losing interest in the case, many celebrities are using their platforms to continue calling for justice for Taylor.To mark the passage of 150 days without any charges, several A-listers posted pictures of themselves wearing t-shirts from the Phenomenal organization reading "Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor" on the front and featuring a portrait of Taylor by artist Arlyn Garcia on the back. The social media posts were shared as an on-going effort aimed at seeking justice for the promising young woman whose life was tragically cut short.The shirt campaign was started by the women of the WNBA (who also dedicated their season to Breonna Taylor) in partnership with Phenomenal with all proceeds going to the Breonna Taylor Foundation. In addition to the WNBA players who wore the shirts, dozens of other public figures have done the same to support the foundation and keep Breonna Taylor's name of mind and in the news.Watchmen star Regina King posted her pic with the reminder that "Too often Black women who die from police violence are forgotten." More, including Tracee Ellis Ross, Viola Davis, Niecy Nash, Retta, Diane Guerrero, Danielle Brooks, Olivia Wilde, Amy Schumer, Amanda Seales, Sarah Paulson, Phillip Lim, Mandy Moore and Jessica Alba posted similar photos and messages.

 

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It’s been 150 days since Breonna Taylor was murdered in her sleep by Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove—and her killers have not been charged. Too often Black women who die from police violence are forgotten. Let’s stay loud, keep demanding justice for Breonna and her family, and SAY HER NAME. This campaign and t-shirt was created by @phenomenal in partnership with the Breonna Taylor Foundation, to which all profits will be donated. Click link in bio Art by @arlyn.garcia

A post shared by Regina King (@iamreginaking) on Aug 10, 2020 at 9:30am PDT

 

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We are still fighting for you sis! ✊? It’s been 150 days since Breonna Taylor was murdered in her home by Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove—and her killers have not been charged. Too often Black women who die from police violence are forgotten. Let’s stay loud, keep demanding justice for Breonna and her family, and SAY HER NAME. Proud to stand with WNBA players in joining this campaign, created by @phenomenal in partnership with the Breonna Taylor Foundation, to which all profits from tees will be donated. (Art by @arlyn.garcia) @phenomenal #sayhername

A post shared by Niecy Nash (@niecynash1) on Aug 10, 2020 at 9:02am PDT

 

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What if this was your child? It’s been 150 days since Breonna Taylor was murdered in her sleep by Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove—and her killers have not been charged. Too often Black women who die from police violence are forgotten. Let’s stay loud, keep demanding justice for Breonna and her family, and SAY HER NAME. This campaign and t-shirt was created by @phenomenal in partnership with the Breonna Taylor Foundation, to which all profits will be donated. (Art by @arlyn.garcia #breonnataylor

A post shared by Danielle Brooks (@daniebb3) on Aug 10, 2020 at 9:55am PDT

 

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Every morning I wake up and I think about her and I think about her mother telling the story of how the police at the scene had her running around looking for her child knowing her body was still in the apartment. • It’s been 150 days since Breonna Taylor was murdered in her sleep by Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove—and her killers have not been charged. Too often Black women who die from police violence are forgotten. Let’s stay loud, keep demanding justice for Breonna and her family, and SAY HER NAME. This campaign and t-shirt was created by @phenomenal in partnership with the Breonna Taylor Foundation, to which all profits will be donated. (Art by @arlyn.garcia) #SayHerName #BreonnaTaylor

A post shared by Retta (@unforettable) on Aug 10, 2020 at 9:18am PDT

 

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Today I explained this t shirt to my 3 yr old daughter. I didn’t sugarcoat the tragedy of it. She should know what kind of world she is here to reimagine. Her innocent horror and confusion should be all of ours. It’s been 150 days since Breonna Taylor was murdered in her sleep by Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove—and her killers have not been charged. Too often Black women who die from police violence are forgotten. Let’s stay loud, keep demanding justice for Breonna and her family, and SAY HER NAME. Proud to stand with WNBA players in joining this campaign, created by @phenomenal in partnership with the Breonna Taylor Foundation, to which all profits from tees will be donated. (Art by @arlyn.garcia)

A post shared by Olivia Wilde (@oliviawilde) on Aug 10, 2020 at 8:52am PDT

 

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t’s been 150 days since Breonna Taylor was murdered in her home by Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove—and her killers have not been charged. Too often Black women who die from police violence are forgotten. Let’s stay loud, keep demanding justice for Breonna and her family, and SAY HER NAME. Proud to stand with WNBA players in joining this campaign, created by @phenomenal in partnership with the Breonna Taylor Foundation, to which all profits from tees will be donated. (Art by @arlyn.garcia)

A post shared by kym whitley (@kymwhitley) on Aug 10, 2020 at 1:04pm PDT

Oprah Winfrey posted a short video to her Instagram with footage of the 26 billboards—one for every year of Breonna Tayor's life—she had mounted to offer a visual reminder of the continued call for justice. She also reveals, through voiceover in the clip, that she's been in contact with Breonna's mother Tamika Palmer and shares a recent heartbreaking conversation they had.

 

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The last time I spoke to Breonna Taylor’s mom, Tamika Palmer, she was having a particularly bad day dealing with the loss of her daughter. She told me, “I can’t stop seeing her face. Her smile. It’s what I miss most about her…I’m still waiting for her to come through the door.” Everybody who’s lost a loved one knows that feeling. For every mother and father whose child is out in the world right now, imagine getting a call in the middle of the night that your daughter has been shot in her apartment. And then you find out the people who killed her were police officers who should never have been there in the first place. What would you want to happen now? Would you be content to hear five months later “there’s an investigation”? And that no one has been held accountable for shooting your innocent daughter multiple times and letting her life bleed out? If not for the coronavirus, I’d be out in the streets marching with the Black Lives Matter protesters. These 26 billboards, one for every year of Breonna’s life, are my offering. My form of protest. We cannot be silent. We have to use whatever megaphone we have to cry for justice. @oprahmagazine

A post shared by Oprah (@oprah) on Aug 10, 2020 at 3:59pm PDT

Earlier this month, Oprah announced she would be stepping aside for the first time in the 20-year history of O Magazine to feature Taylor on the cover. “Breonna Taylor. She was just like you. And like everyone who dies unexpectedly, she had plans. Plans for a future filled with responsibility and work and friends and laughter. Imagine if three unidentified men burst into your home while you were sleeping. And your partner fired a gun to protect you. And then mayhem. What I know for sure: We can’t be silent,” wrote Winfrey for the September issue. “We have to use whatever megaphone we have to cry for justice. And that is why Breonna Taylor is on the cover of O magazine. I cry for justice in her name.”On March 13, Louisville police officers Jonathan Mattingly, Myles Cosgrove, and Brett Hankison arrived at Taylor’s apartment that she shared with boyfriend Kenneth Walker. The officers were reportedly looking for drugs, although no drugs were found in the couple’s apartment. Contrary to what the three police officers involved have claimed, Walker and several neighbors have stated that the officers did not announce themselves before using a battering ram to break down the door. Believing the police to be intruders, Walker fired his registered firearm, hitting one of the officers in the leg as the police returned fire. The officers fired 20 shots into the apartment, hitting Taylor eight times. Walker was initially arrested and charged with first-degree assault and attempted murder of a police officer, but those charges were subsequently dropped.[video_embed id='2011257']RELATED: Oprah speaks out about white privilege [/video_embed]In June, pressure from Louisville residents forced city council to pass Breonna’s Law, which bans “no knock” warrants and requires officers have their body cameras on and recording at least five minutes before and after serving a warrant. Efforts to make Breonna’s Law a federal mandate are ongoing.This week’s show of support for Taylor is the latest in a series of public efforts made by celebrities to elevate her profile. On June 5, Taylor should have been celebrating her 27^th birthday. Instead, a campaign was launched by writer Cate Young and included birthday cards being sent to Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron as a reminder of his inaction in Taylor’s case. Solange, Megan Thee Stallion, Alicia Keys and many others supported the campaign.Beyoncé also shared a letter on her website in June. Addressed to AG Cameron, Beyoncé demanded charges be brought against Mattingly, Cosgrove, and Hankison. “With every death of a Black person at the hands of the police, there are two real tragedies: the death itself, and the inaction and delays that follow it. This is your chance to end that pattern. Take swift and decisive action in charging the officers. The next months cannot look like the last three,” wrote Beyoncé.Jennifer Lawrence joined social media for the sole purpose of demanding justice for Taylor’s death. “As a Louisvillian, as a human being, I cannot be silent,” she wrote. “I join all those who are speaking out against this grave injustice, calling upon Attorney General Daniel Cameron to take immediate action to hold those responsible for her death accountable.”A documentary about Breonna Taylor and the movement sparked over the outrage at the injustice of her death is currently in the works at FX. Award-winning director Yoruba Richen and Pulitzer-prize nominated reporter Rukmini Callimachi are behind the doc, which will be part of The New York Times Presents series.[video_embed id='2011889']BEFORE YOU GO: LaKeith Stanfield assures fans he's fine after disturbing IG posts [/video_embed]