Name: ‘What if that was me?’: Houston activists outraged over Breonna Taylor decision
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‘What if that was me?’: Houston activists outraged over Breonna Taylor decision

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This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateHouston activists on Wednesday joined a chorus of outrage across the nation over a Kentucky grand jury’s decision to indict only one of several officers involved in a raid that resulted in the death of Breonna Taylor.Taylor, a 26-year-old medical worker, was fatally shot by Louisville police officers in March during a botched drug raid at her apartment. The grand jury on Wednesday announced its decision to indict one of three officers who fired their weapons.In Houston, the local NAACP and Urban League questioned the decision in a news conference.“We believe to be more than unjust, but a despicable and a deplorable misrepresentation of justice,” said Houston NAACP Vice President James Dixon. “This charge is not even directly related or connected to the shooting death of Breonna Taylor… it is yet another tragic example that for too many people, too often, black lives really don’t matter.”The indicted officer, Brett Hankison, was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment for shooting into the next-door apartment.After NAACP’s press conference, about 50 activists gathered outside Houston City Hall for what they described as a spontaneous event to express their outrage. Demonstrators took turns addressing the diverse crowd, and many advocated for “defunding” police services in favor of mental health or housing initiatives.“I just hope for the 50 people who are here, that there’s a silent 50,000 who are willing to vote and protest that way,” said Sahib Easley.Protesters brought signs with messages that include “Black Lives Matter” or “Defund HPD.” One man, Joshua Lewis, said he hopes the response to Taylor’s death — and the deaths of other Black Americans — will push local law enforcement and city leaders to be more transparent in similar shootings in Houston.He highlighted the recent police shooting of Nicolas Chavez in April. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo released the body cam video from that shooting earlier this month and fired four officers involved.“One of the things that I keep seeing with Breonna Taylor — with how the city of Houston has handled Nicolas Chavez and others — is a lack of transparency. A lack of willingness to be open and to own mistakes. And that’s burned trust,” Lewis said.Hannah Isonguyo said she related to Breonna Taylor’s story as a Black woman of the same age.“You look at a story like that, and there’s so many similarities because we really are one,” she said. “What if that was me? What if that was my friend? So many of us are in the same situation, and I shouldn’t be afraid to fall asleep in my own home. My home is supposed to be my safe place.”Mark Mulligan contributed to this report.julian.gill@chron.com

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateHouston activists on Wednesday joined a chorus of outrage across the nation over a Kentucky grand jury’s decision to indict only one of several officers involved in a raid that resulted in the death of Breonna Taylor.Taylor, a 26-year-old medical worker, was fatally shot by Louisville police officers in March during a botched drug raid at her apartment. The grand jury on Wednesday announced its decision to indict one of three officers who fired their weapons.In Houston, the local NAACP and Urban League questioned the decision in a...

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Julian Gill

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‘What if that was me?’: Houston activists outraged over Breonna Taylor decision

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