Beyonce Demands That Charges Be Filed Against 3 Officers & More In Breonna Taylor’s Death

Beyonce penned a powerful open letter to Kentucky's Attorney General Daniel Cameron, urging him to not lot 'let this case fall into the pattern of no action after a terrible tragedy.'

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June 14, 2020 8:38PM EDT
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A person walks past a graffito showing late George Floyd, in Berlin, Germany, 30 May 2020. A bystander's video posted online on 25 May, appeared to show George Floyd, 46, pleading with arresting officers that he couldn't breathe as an officer knelt on his neck in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The unarmed black man later died in police custody. A series of demonstrations throughout the German capital, calling for ending of the social and economical restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The events are organised by groups of various motives, right wing activists, conspiracy theory believers and more, several counter demonstrations by left leaning organisations were also taking place. Anti-restrictions protests and counter demos in Berlin, Germany - 30 May 2020
Mayor Bill de Blasio, third from left, participates in painting Black Lives Matter on Fifth Avenue in front of Trump Tower, in New York. The mayor's wife, Chirlane McCray, is fourth from left and Rev. Al Sharpton is second from left Racial Injustice , New York, United States - 09 Jul 2020
People pose with a new Black Lives Matter mural outside of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in New York. Black Lives Matter mural, New York, USA - 09 Jul 2020

Beyonce, 38, is demanding justice for the late Breonna Taylor. The Lion King star posted an open letter addressed to Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron on her website on Sunday, June 14, demanding justice for the 27-year-old EMT worker who was shot to death by police in her apartment. “Three months have passed — and zero arrests have been made, and no officers have been fired,” Beyonce wrote, urging the department to take “swift and decisive” action against Louisville Metro Police Department’s Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and officers Myles Cosgrove and Brett Hankison.

“Don’t let this case fall into the pattern of no action after a terrible tragedy,” Beyonce wrote, including a link for fans to sign a petition seeking further justice for Breonna. “With every death of a Black person at the hands of the police, there are two real tragedies: The death itself, and the inaction and delays that follow it. This is your chance to end that pattern. Take swift and decisive action in charging the officers. The next months cannot look like the last three,” the Lemonade singer, who has been a voice in the Black Lives Matter movement, pleaded.

“Three months have passed — and Breonna Taylor’s family still waits for justice,” the Houston, Texas native said, referencing Breonna’s mother Tamika Palmer, who recently appeared on the Today Show to talk about her daughter’s legacy. “Ms. Taylor’s family has not been able to take time to process and grieve,” she went on, outlining the three steps of action she wants to see taken: bringing criminal charges against the officers involved, committing to “transparency” in investigation, and investigating the LMPD’s response to Breonna’s death. Beyonce’s letter comes just weeks after she posted a video about the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who was murdered by Minneapolis police officers at just 46 years old.

Black Lives Matter protest
Protesters gather to protest the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, in Louisville, Kentucky. Breonna, black woman, was fatally shot by police in her home in March. (Darron Cummings/AP/Shutterstock)

On June 5, Beyonce took to Instagram to celebrate what would have been Breonna’s 27th birthday. Reposting a gorgeous artist rendering of Breonna by 18-year-old artist Gracie Lee, Beyonce added “Justice for Breonna. Click the link in my bio to take action.” Breonna is pictured with a flower wreath on her head in the angelic image, which has been shared by thousands on social media.