Frankfort, KY – Various artists headed to The Bluegrass State on Thursday (June 25) to rally in the name of Breonna Taylor.
Common, Rapsody, MC Lyte, Mysonne and Jada Pinkett Smith were among those in attendance at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort as people demanded the arrests of the officers involved in Taylor’s murder. The late EMT’s family and Ahmaud Arbery’s mother were also in attendance.
Common performed a poem at the rally, dedicated to Taylor and all black women.
“I’m a black man who was raised by a black woman,” the Chicago native began. Not only because I was raised by a black mother and a grandmother who helped shape me, but because I have a daughter who is a growing black woman. I stand up for black women because it’s what I’m supposed to do. It’s what I’m chosen to do. As a child of God, I stand up for black women because standing up for black women is standing u for humanity.”
#BlackLivesMatter: I wrote a poem dedicated to Breonna Taylor and Black Women everywhere that I shared at today’s rally. Love. pic.twitter.com/DLiNaehaHs
— COMMON (@common) June 25, 2020
Earlier this month, Beyoncé wrote a letter to Kentucky’s Attorney General Daniel Cameron urging for justice for Taylor, who was killed by Louisville police inside her own apartment on March 13. While one cop involved has since been fired, the other two remain on administrative leave and none of the three are in prison.
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View more moments from the rally below.
Kentucky is standing for Breonna, and the country is standing with us. Thank you to @common , @jadapsmith, and everyone who came to Kentucky to raise their voices in solidarity.
Say her name. pic.twitter.com/ymfhMmUBJ3
— Charles Booker (@Booker4KY) June 25, 2020
The speeches are finally starting. Activists from @untilfreedom have arrived. Breonna’s family, Ahmaud Arbery’s mother, Common, MC Lyte, Kenny Stills and more are expected to join them in Frankfort today. #BreonnaTaylor @WHAS11 pic.twitter.com/QEu47deXw5
— Senait (@SenaitTV) June 25, 2020
Jada Pinkett Smith brought Willow and Jaden to Frankfort #Kentucky with her to stand in solidarity with #BreonnaTaylor’s mother. @untilfreedom pic.twitter.com/aV2NaTzgi2
— Senait (@SenaitTV) June 25, 2020
Tomorrow at 11am, roll up with us to the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort. We all gonna be there and so will @common & @rapsody & @yandysmith & @TamikaDMallory & @Mysonne & the families of Breonna and Atatiana and Ahmaud. #JusticeForBreonna https://t.co/lDmjmDS3zS
— untilfreedom (@untilfreedom) June 25, 2020
Kentucky U.S. Senate candidate @Booker4KY takes stage firing up the crowd. #BreonnaTaylor pic.twitter.com/Jkaki3kGNh
— Senait (@SenaitTV) June 25, 2020