One Year After Breonna Taylor's Death, Kentucky Legislature Moves to Criminalize Protesting
Photo Credit: Timothy D. Easley
March 13, 2021, marked the first anniversary of Breonna Taylor’s death. On that Saturday, hundreds of people gathered to demand justice. The day before, the Kentucky Senate passed a bill. SB 211 would make it a Class B misdemeanor to insult police officers. By saying something or making a gesture “that would have a direct tendency to provoke a violent response from the perspective of a reasonable and prudent person.” According to Kentucky Criminal Defense Attorneys, this would put insulting a police officer into the same category as a DUI and is punishable by fines up to $250 and up to 90 days of jail time.
If the Kentucky House of Representatives passes SB 211, it also criminalizes protesting. Any person considered to be “rioting” faces a 48-hour minimum jail time. If any person is regarded as “resisting” arrest during a “riot,” they will face a Class D felony, which puts it in the same category as a convicted felon possessing a firearm.
An article from WFPL News quotes Sen. Gerald Neal (D-Louisville) saying SB 211 is a “hammer” on his district, which is predominantly Black.”This is a backhand slap. I personally resent it. This is beneath this body. Because you have power doesn’t make it wise to use it. Because you want to express your feeling doesn’t mean you have the answer. You don’t know what’s going on in my district.” It fails to address the systemic problems they are trying to change.
The problem with SB 211 is that a “riot” and the “perspective of a reasonable and prudent person” is defined by the dominant culture (white supremacy). It gives law enforcement the discretion to decide whether a word or hand gesture is offensive enough to make them angry enough to react with violence. Police officers can define “resisting arrest” as they see fit, including Black or Brown persons running from a protest for fear officers may shoot them. It fails to address white supremacist infiltrators who incited violence in peaceful Black Life Matter protests.
SB 211 is highly offensive and dangerous, especially since Black Americans are 2.5 times more likely to be shot by police officers than white Americans. It is insulting on the eve of the anniversary of Breonna Taylor’s death. It spits on all the Black people killed at the hands of police officers. It excuses bias and racism. It further ingrains white supremacy into the foundation of our society. It is an attempt to silence the voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color who have been demanding justice and reform.
In the face of this injustice, help us honor the lives of our Black siblings who continue to fight for their lives and those we have lost to police brutality through these simple ways:
Learn about these 106 Black men and boys killed by police
Visit the Know Their Names memorial, by Alia Chughtai
Support the #SayHerName Campaign and read the #SayHerName report by the African American Policy Forum
Learn how you can support the Black community and fight to combat racism, discrimination, and police brutality
Find a plethora of anti-racism resources at YourBlackFriendAreBusy
To all my Black, Indigenous, and Siblings of Color, I see you. I love you. I urge you to care for your mental wellness. Visit NAMI for a wide variety of resources, including:
NAMI’s Sharing Hope Program
Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM)
Black Men Heal
Black Mental Health Alliance
Black Mental Wellness
POC Online Classroom
Therapy for Black Girls
The SIWE Project
Self-Care For People Of Color
and many more
