Hip-hop came out in force online to pay tribute to the late Breonna Taylor on what would have been her 27th birthday. The Louisville native was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) officers on March 13, 2020 while serving a “no-knock warrant” for selling controlled substances. Taylor was shot eight times after her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, opened fire on what he believed to be intruders who hadn’t announced themselves as police officers. No drugs were found in the apartment. Taylor’s death, along with those of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd, sparked nationwide protests against police brutality.
Taylor, who was an EMT for University of Louisville Jewish Hospital and Norton Healthcare, would have been 27 today. Her birthday became a rallying cry for the #SayHerName social media movement which calls attention to the Black, female victims of police violence who are ordinarily overlooked by some who choose to focus on the Black men killed by police. Among the artists paying tribute to Breonna Taylor were stars like Alicia Keys, Ari Lennox, Chance The Rapper, Charli XCX, Chika, Earthgang, Janelle Monae, Jhene Aiko, Kash Doll, Kehlani, Lil Dicky, Missy Elliott, Nas, Rapsody, and more. Many shared resources to organizations combatting police violence and advocating for justice reform.
See some of the tributes to Breonna Taylor below.
Today would have been #BreonnaTaylor’s 27th birthday.
She was an essential worker murdered by the police while she was sleeping.
She should be alive to celebrate! But instead no charges have been issued and no arrests have been made with the officers involved. pic.twitter.com/KzYHgK3utw
— Alicia Keys (@aliciakeys) June 5, 2020
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBC62fhBHTb/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBENAE-gDz9/
please sign this petition to help obtain justice for #BreonnaTaylor. it literally takes 2 seconds to do this. today would have been her 27th birthday. please do this now. https://t.co/MNsTbvL4rO
— Charli (@charli_xcx) June 5, 2020
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBD24PRj1cm/
🗣keep the same energy for #BreonnaTaylor 🗣DEMAND JUSTICE 🗣THE COPS BELOW KILLED HER IN HER SLEEP AND ARE ROAMING FREE👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾 https://t.co/UbjKEeD4c6
— Janelle Monáe👽🚆🤖🚀🪐 (@JanelleMonae) June 5, 2020
https://www.instagram.com/p/CA8ltADjToO/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBEGUwPjWtk/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBD0hsnpKgf/
. @govandybeshear @djaycameron @danielcameronag @repjohnyarmuth @randpaul @senatemajldr we demand justice for #BreonnaTaylor
— Dave (@lildickytweets) June 5, 2020
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBDYZFog7tv/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBECgMigwvl/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBDa43HFrFL/
Some artists mentioned here are Warner Music artists. .