© 2021 Chaos+Comrades. All Rights Reserved
On Wednesday night’s vice presidential debate moderator Susan Page asked whether or not the candidates believed justice had been “done” in the case of Breonna Taylor. Sgt. Brett Hankison, the only officer charged for Taylor’s death, received three charges of “wanton endangerment,” a class D felony considered less severe than murder. Meanwhile, officers Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove, who also fired shots during the “no-knock” entry raid of her apartment on March 13th, were not criminally charged at all.
Kamala Harris was quick to respond to Page’s question about whether justice was done.
“I don’t believe so,” she said.
Harris referred to conversations she’d had with Taylor’s mother, Tanika Palmer, and other family members. Harris also noted that Taylor’s life was taken “unjustifiably, tragically, and violently,” and ensured the public that under a Biden administration, there would be “reform of policing in America and our criminal justice system.”
Pence’s response was radically different.
“Well, our heart breaks for the loss of any innocent American life, and the family of Breonna Taylor has our sympathies,” he said. “But I trust our justice system, a grand jury that refused the evidence.”
breonna taylor did not ask to become a martyr for the racist actions of the police. the fact that her death is a DEBATE issue is disgraceful.
— sara li (@saruhli) October 8, 2020
Pence furthered his stance by condemning the rioting and looting that took place in response to Taylor’s murder in the summer and after the verdict. Pence stated that despite the tragedy of Breonna’s death, violence was not an “excuse.” He also attacked the Biden administration for consistently relaying the notion that America is “systemically racist.”
Pence stated that the idea there is a “bias against minorities” is a “great insult” to the men and women who work in law enforcement.
Pence just all-lives mattered Breonna Taylor’s death. #VPDebate
— Karen Attiah (@KarenAttiah) October 8, 2020
The argument made by Pence sent a message to Black and brown communities that under Trump, they will continue to live in a country where “law and order” are more important than the innocent people lost at the hands of police.
© 2021 Chaos+Comrades. All Rights Reserved
