LOUISVILLE, Ky.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0On March 13, 2020,\u00a0Breonna Taylor\u00a0was shot and killed in her home by police officers who broke down her door to\u00a0serve\u00a0a search warrant.<\/p>\n
One year later, her death\u00a0and her name\u00a0continue to drive calls for change\u00a0in relation to\u00a0policing, systemic racism and a host of other issues impacting residents of Louisville, Kentucky, and\u00a0countless other cities.<\/p>\n
Numerous events, rallies and programs are scheduled this week in Louisville in honor of the 26-year-old Black woman and the one-year anniversary of her death, which is Saturday.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, the one-year mark\u00a0of Taylor’s death, a “Justice for Breonna Taylor” rally, memorial and march is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. in Jefferson Square Park.<\/p>\n
Protesters dubbed the park “Injustice Square” as they frequently gathered there over the past year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Taylor’s mother,\u00a0Tamika Palmer, and other family members will lead Saturday’s rally.<\/p>\n
Later Saturday\u00a0afternoon, the Breonna Taylor Foundation will sponsor a meal distribution program\u00a0in the park, and a pop-up mall honoring Black businesses will commemorate Taylor.<\/p>\n
The weekend events in honor of Taylor will conclude Sunday\u00a0with “The People’s Empowerment Brunch,” which will\u00a0feature numerous speakers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear\u00a0released a statement\u00a0Saturday morning on the one-year anniversary of Taylor’s death.<\/p>\n
“Today we remember Breonna Taylor, her tragic and unnecessary loss and the immense work we have ahead of us,” Beshear said. “I will never understand the unimaginable grief of Tamika Palmer and other family and loved ones, but I am committed to listening and working with others to build a more equitable and fair commonwealth for every Kentuckian.”<\/p>\n
The FBI’s Louisville field office also\u00a0put out a statement\u00a0Saturday morning, saying it is “actively investigating all aspects of her death and will continue to work diligently until this investigation is completed.”<\/p>\n
Jefferson Square Park, which saw a series of protests last summer following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, will likely get a marker installed this spring, according to a news release from Mayor Greg Fischer’s office.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The front of the marker will mention the “2020 Racial Justice Protests” and include the following message:<\/p>\n
“Built in 1978, Jefferson Square Park memorializes first responders killed in the line of duty. In 2020, it became a rallying place for those demanding justice for Breonna Taylor, a Black woman\u00a0tragically killed by Louisville Metro Police serving a search warrant.\u00a0Protesters called this space ‘Injustice Square Park’\u00a0and held demonstrations that drew global attention.”<\/p>\n
Vincent James, the city\u2019s chief of Community Building,\u00a0said the marker “will be a permanent reminder of the challenges we face, as a city and a nation, and the work we\u2019re doing to move our city from tragedy to transformation.”<\/p>\n
Next week, the city said it will also “work with the\u00a0families to remove and store memorial items left in the park.”<\/p>\n