National NCNW News

NCNW Statement on the Legal Cause of the
Death of Breonna Taylor

CONTACTS

Renee Scott, rscott@ncnw.org, 771.216.5957

Tonita Perry, tperry@eaddyperry.com, 704-965-6956

For Immediate Release

Washington, D.C., —The National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW) is deeply disappointed by the ruling of U.S. District Court Judge Charles Simpson that “the legal cause of Taylor’s death” was the decision of Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, firing his licensed gun when officers burst into their home with a warrantless entry.

In Golden Gulag, Dr. Ruth Wilson Gilmore defines racism as “the state sanctioned and/or legal production and exploitation of group-differentiated vulnerabilities to premature death,” and this is exactly what we are observing in this ruling. It is unacceptable that Detective Joshua Jaynes and Sgt. Kyle Meany may not face consequence for violating Taylors constitutional rights and falsifying an affidavit to obtain a no-knock warrant to enter Taylor’s home. Had this not happened, Taylor would still be with us today. 

It has been four years since the murder of Breonna Taylor, and her family, along with the nation, has waited with baited breath in hopes that the officers who killed her would face the full consequences of their actions. We believe that the decision to drop federal charges against these officers is not the right move, and NCNW will continue to work with the appropriate parties to ensure that justice is served for Breonna Taylor’s family. Everyone deserves the right to safety in their home, and we will continue to pursue justice until this is a reality.”

NCNW is a 501(c)(3) organization, known as the “organization of organizations.” It is comprised of 330 campus and community-based sections and 37 national women’s organizations that enlightens, inspires, and connects more than 2,000,000 women and men. NCNW was founded by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune in 1935, and the iconic Dr. Dorothy Height served as president for over fifty years.

Its mission is to lead, advocate for, and empower women of African descent, their families, and communities. Today, it is grounded on a foundation of critical concerns that are now “NCNW Priorities,” one of which is promoting civic engagement and advocating for sound public policy and social justice.

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