The Louisville Courier Journal is commemorating Breonna Taylor’s life and what has happened one year after her death with unique, impactful local coverage from reporters rooted in the community who have been covering the fatal police shooting of Taylor from the beginning.
This Saturday, March 13 marks one year since Louisville police shot and killed Taylor while serving a warrant at her home. The 26-year-old Black woman’s death has since sparked international outrage and demand for criminal justice reforms, but even before the case gained attention beyond Louisville, Courier Journal reporters were providing crucial on-the-ground information about her death to the local community they serve. Courier Journal reporters have reflected on the impact of the case they’ve observed surrounding key protest moments and are now reflecting on “the year that turned Louisville upside-down.”
The Courier Journal’s coverage of the one-year anniversary of the shooting includes an interview with Taylor’s aunt Bianca Austin, a look at changes and reforms since her death, a profile of young activists pushing for racial justice and more ahead of protests expected in the city on Saturday.
The Courier Journal also scheduled three Facebook lives this month for panelists, including local politicians, community members, professors and government officials, to discuss how systemic racism continues to create wide disparities in Louisville. The goal with the virtual panels, which incorporate questions submitted in advance from viewers, is to open conversations about what can be done to reduce opportunity gaps for people of color in Louisville and how the Courier Journal’s coverage should continue to shine a spotlight on systemic racism in the city. More details about the series and how to watch the final of the three panels on March 17 can be found here.
“At a time when Breonna Taylor’s family and the Louisville community were demanding answers, The Courier Journal’s reporting has helped uncover the truth. We broke stories that challenged the police narrative; we compiled a comprehensive fact-check to combat disinformation; and we focused on public service journalism that has helped ignite a racial reckoning in Louisville. Our commitment to this story continues as Louisville looks to tear down racist systems and create a more equitable city,” said Veda W. Morgan, senior director for engagement, diversity and opinion at the Courier Journal.Get the Coronavirus Watch newsletter in your inbox.
In addition to the Courier Journal’s coverage, USA TODAY and USA TODAY NETWORK journalists had conversations with Black women around the country about what Breonna Taylor’s death meant to them, talked with experts about the racial trauma of Black deaths and explored the origin of #SayHerName and the power of those words, particularly for the community of families who have lost someone that has formed around it.
