Breonna Taylor: Protest marks anniversary of police killing

Hundreds of people have gathered in the US city of Louisville for a rally to mark a year since the death of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old black medic shot dead when police raided her home.

The incident caused outrage, spurring protests against racism and brutality.

Ms Taylor was shot by officers who forced entry into her home using a “no-knock” warrant that meant they did not have to announce themselves.

The three police officers who carried out the raid were eventually sacked.

During the operation Ms Taylor’s boyfriend Kenneth Walker shot and wounded one of the officers. Earlier this month a charge of attempted murder against him was dropped.

Mr Walker said he fired once because he believed criminals were breaking in. The officers responded with 32 shots, six of which struck Ms Taylor.

However, a grand jury decided not to charge any of them over Ms Taylor’s death, sparking protests.

During Saturday’s demonstration in Louisville, speakers demanded justice for Breonna Taylor.

“It’s been a year and justice has not been served,” Camille Bascus, a 50-year-old African American, told the AFP news agency.

Ahead of the rally, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said in a statement that he would “never understand the unimaginable grief” of Ms Taylor’s family and loved ones.

“Today we remember Breonna Taylor, her tragic and unnecessary loss and the immense work we have ahead of us,” he said.

The FBI’s Louisville field office also issued a statement saying that its investigation into Ms Taylor’s death had made “significant progress” since it began last May, without providing further details.

Ms Taylor’s killing did not initially attract nationwide attention. But it received renewed focus after the police killing of unarmed black man George Floyd in Minneapolis, which ignited anti-racism protests around the world.

Agencies