NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Black Lives Matter 757 held a protest in Norfolk Wednesday night following the news that a former officer was charged in connection with the shooting that killed Breonna Taylor in Kentucky — but not for her death.
A grand jury on Wednesday indicted one of the Kentucky police officers on criminal charges, but not for her death on March 13. He is charged with three counts of wanton endangerment. The other officers involved have not been charged.
The protest started at 7:57 p.m. in Martin Luther King Jr. Park at 701 Church Street in Norfolk. About 60 people gathered in the park.
“We demand justice on the night of the attorney general’s announcement,” a BLM 757 flyer read.
The group marched from MLK Park to the Waterside district. They also stopped at the former site of the Confederate monument and the Norfolk jail.
Protestors took a knee and a moment of silence. Norfolk Police followed closely behind the entire way.
Protesters said what happened to Taylor could happen to anyone – and because of this, they’ll keep marching. We spoke with some demonstrators. One woman told 10 On Your Side she felt compelled to come out because she knows the pain Taylor’s family is feeling. She said a loved one was shot and killed by police back in 2016.
“It’s just sad. It’s sad she lost her life for nothing. To me, more could have been done. That’s another reason why I’m out here, because I understand. It wasn’t my child but I’ve been around her for so long she felt like she was mine,” said Kenya Beaty.
Another woman, who didn’t want to be identified, said the grand jury’s indictment makes her feel as though no life matters.
“We’re all relevant, we’re all important, we’re all human beings but to anyone above us, we’re not. That was the message they got across,” she said.
The group said this is a marathon, not a sprint and they’ll keep fighting as long as they have to. They also encouraged everyone to get registered to vote.
On Friday night, the group also plans to protest President Donald Trump’s visit to Newport News.