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Breonna Taylor’s Mother Responds To Grand Jury Charges: 'I Knew Daniel Cameron Would Never Do His Job'

Tamika Palmer's sister read a statement during a press conference in Louisville.

Update: Friday, September 25, 2020

The family of Breonna Taylor, their attorneys and several supporters held a press conference in Louisville, Kentucky on Friday to issue their official response to the grand jury decision and Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron's efforts to getting justice for Taylor. 

"I was reassured Wednesday of why I have no faith in the legal system," said Tamika Palmer in part of a statement read by her sister, Bianca Austin, who also wore Taylor's EMT jacket during the press conference as a way to stay close to her niece. 

"The police and law were not made to protect us Black and brown women. I knew Daniel Cameron would never do his job. The system as a whole has failed Breonna."

Palmer also said that a lack of investigation failed my her daughter, robbing the world of a queen. She believes that Cameron was “too inexperienced” to handle this case.

“What he helped me realize is that it will always be us against them,” Palmer said in the statement.She also warned anyone who chooses to dismiss her as “an angry black woman,” saying, “Know this: I am an angry black woman,” Palmer said. “Angry because our black women keep dying at the hands of police officers.”

Taylor's family is demanding that Cameron release the transcript and other details of the grand jury proceedings that ultimately led to the indictment of only one of three officers involved in her shooting death on March 13.

Attorney Benjamin Crump said the family is "heartbroken, devastated, and outraged, confused and bewildered just like all of us as to what the Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron presented to the grand jury."

Crump questions whether or not Cameron truly presented evidence on Taylor’s behalf or if he allowed his political ties and ambition to get in the way of executing his job as attorney general. Crump says the family feels like they were denied justice. He also used the opportunity to invigorate people to use the power of voting to get send a clear, present message. 

Crump also used the opportunity to urge people marching in support of Taylor to vote in the upcoming presidential election.

“There seems to be two justice systems in America – one for Black America and one for White America. And this has been emphasized by this grand jury proceeding into the killing of Breonna Taylor," he said during the press conference. 

Breonna Taylor’s mother is speaking out about the lack of accountability and justice her daughter has received. The grand jury decision came down on Wednesday, September 21 resulting in not one of the officers involved in her daughter’s shooting death being charged with homicide.

Instead, former officer Brett Hankinson was charged with just three counts of “wanton endangerment” in the first degree in connection with the fatal shooting of Taylor. A $15,000 cash bond was attached to the charges. The other two officers, Sgt. John Mattingly and Det. Myles Cosgrove, were not charged. They remain on the force, while Hankinson was fired in July.

Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, took to Instagram to post a picture of her daughter and a caption that can simply be described as heartbreaking.

“It’s still Breonna Taylor for me💙💔💙 #ThesystemfailedBreonna,” wrote Palmer.

RELATED: Breonna Taylor Case: Attorney Benjamin Crump Speaks Out Against ‘Outrageous And Offensive’ Charges

The Taylor family’s lead attorney Benjamin Crump has also spoken out about the charges handed down by the grand jury and announced by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron.

“Jefferson County Grand Jury indicts former ofc. Brett Hankison with 3 counts of Wanton Endangerment in 1st Degree for bullets that went into other apartments but NOTHING for the murder of Breonna Taylor. This is outrageous and offensive!” wrote Crump. “If Brett Hankison's behavior was wanton endangerment to people in neighboring apartments, then it should have been wanton endangerment in Breonna Taylor's apartment too. In fact, it should have been ruled wanton murder!”

See Tamika Palmer’s post about her daughter below.

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