Terrell and I have chosen to address the tragic death of Breonna Taylor together. We are two people bonded through our shared experience of gun violence. At times, this bond has also highlighted our differences – differences formed within us over decades of differing cultural, social, and environmental factors. For some, these differences can stifle working together to solve problems, but they do not stifle us. Differences can lead to hate, but Terrell and I have only love for one another. In this moment of great pain, we think we can use our strength and unity to help. We want to try.
A Message from Terrell
Terrell Williams is a survivor of gun violence and an advocate. He is a member of the Whitney/Strong board. To read more about Terrell’s story click here.
Waking up the past few weeks and seeing my Instagram feed filled with news of gun violence and social injustice has been emotionally and mentally draining.
The news that breaks my heart the most is the death of Breonna Taylor. Breonna and I had a special connection. She was there for me during some of the toughest days of my recovery journey. Never in a million years did I think that this sweet, young lady who helped nurse me back to health would have her own encounter with gun violence.
Breonna was shot several times and died in her own home. That is something no person and no family should have to deal with. To make matters worse, our community is irate because the bullets that killed Breonna were fired from an officer’s gun.
Many people classify Breonna’s death as “Police Brutality” or “Police Terrorism”. Regardless of how you label it, Breonna was the victim of a type of gun violence that is rarely given the attention it deserves - gun violence that disproportionately impacts Black people.
See, I have a unique perspective on the Breonna Taylor case. Not only am I constantly reminded of gun violence due to the injuries I suffered from my gunshot wounds, but I also have to deal with the reality of being a Black person in America. For me, it is a real fear that any day my name could be the next name on the national news as a victim of police-related gun violence.
I see the frustrations being expressed by protestors. There is reason to be frustrated. Police gun violence is an area that needs attention and revision now.
Breonna’s death isn’t only a reminder of a broken system; it is a reminder that some people consider a good day “good” as long as they don’t get shot. It is a reminder that some parents dream about their child’s wedding day while others worry that they’ll have to bury their child because of a bullet. It is a reminder that for some young people, reaching the age of 25 is the first time that living to see age 50 is an actual thought.
There is a lot of work to be done in the fight against gun violence that impacts people of color. If you’re not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem.
A message from Whitney
Whitney is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Whitney/Strong and a survivor of gun violence.
Whitney/Strong decided on the day we organized to fight all gun violence. While much attention is directed at mass shootings, we hold gun violence of any kind within our purview - including gun violence at the hands of police.
It is a challenging position for someone who has also been rescued by police.
My perspective has not always been so conflicted. Before I was shot, mass shootings were of some concern, but inner-city and officer-involved shootings were not a real threat in my mind. I had an epiphany a few weeks after September 6, 2018, as I struggled to breathe (a collapsed lung and broken rib will do that to you) walking up a slight incline in my backyard.
I thought, “My children play here freely, and I have no concern that a bullet will come flying by and steal them away from me. Yet, there are mothers in my community who worry about this and other forms of gun violence nearly every moment of every day.” It took me being shot to empathize with those mothers and to recognize the role I needed to play in solving for this racial inequity.
Today, I think about Breonna Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, and the unimaginable pain of losing her beautiful daughter. I think about Kenneth Walker, and the trauma of witnessing his girlfriend’s violent death. I think about Terrell and everyone whose lives were positively impacted by their relationship with Breonna, how painful it must be to know a person who dedicated her life to nursing strangers through their darkest hours was killed so tragically.
Mostly, I think about how I can convince people to move from complacency to action. How do I inspire people to act?
My heart hurts for so many. Terrell and I hope these tips for fighting racial inequity offer a productive outlet for action.
Engage your family and friends in tough conversation and tough research. Educate yourself on how we got here and challenge those around you to do the same.
Support organizations in your community that are actively fighting racial inequity. For the city of Louisville we suggest organizations like the Louisville Urban League and the local Showing Up for Racial Justice chapter.
Take some time to learn about the proposals being brought forth – increased accountability of law enforcement, more training, increased usage of body cameras, prioritizing diversity within the police force. Thoughtfully adopt what you want to advocate for.
Express your concerns to community leaders. Show up for city council meetings. Write letters and email to Council members, the Mayor, and the District Attorney. We need the help of our city leaders to get justice for Breonna.
Engage with social media to start the conversation. Share this blog post. Change your profile pictures to honor the legacy of Breonna Taylor.
Protest peacefully and responsibly.
I want all of you to know that it’s okay to feel conflicted. If you believe, like I do, that most police officers are heroes and play a critical role in public safety (after all, I am alive due to the heroic efforts of Cincinnati Police), it should not feel like a betrayal to demand justice for Breonna Taylor. You can both respect members of law enforcement and also demand that they practice transparency, racial equity, and objective review. Stand up when something is wrong, even if it feels uncomfortable.
Remember: If you want to get to the very best solutions, surround yourself with those who think differently. Do not stop when the conversation gets uncomfortable. Some of my greatest moments of growth have come from people and places that made me feel uncomfortable with myself and my viewpoints. I am so thankful to Terrell, other Board members, and community leaders who challenge me in this way. By challenging yourself, you can do it too.