Democrat presidential candidate Joe Biden has condemned the shooting of two police officers at a protest in Louisville, Kentucky over prosecutors’ decision not to charge officers with the killing of Breonna Taylor.
“Even amidst the profound grief & anger today’s decision generated, violence is never & can never be the answer,” Mr Biden, 77, said in an early morning tweet on Thursday.
“Those who engage in it must be held accountable. Jill & I are keeping the officers shot tonight in Louisville in our prayers. We wish them both a swift & full recovery,” he added.
Taylor, a 26-year-old black hospital worker who was shot multiple times when three plainclothes officers stormed her home on 13 March searching for drugs.
Two Lousiville police offers were shot on Wednesday night after a grand jury decided earlier in the day that no one would be charged over the killing of Taylor.
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One of the officers, Brett Hankinson, has been charged with first-degree “wanton endangerment” for firing rounds into a neighbouring house. Sergeant John Mattingly and detective Myles Cosgrove, the two other officers, will face no charges, Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron announced on Wednesday.
Taylor’s name has become a rallying cry for demonstrators protesting against police brutality and calling for an end to racial inequality. Protests have taken place in Lousiville – Kentucky’s largest city – for 100 consecutive days and gained momentum following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May.
Demonstrations continued on Wednesday following the grand jury’s decision, with activists demanding more serious charges against the officers involved. Protests also broke out in Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia and Washington.
Source: @Independent
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