‘No justice.’ Readers react to grand jury decision in Breonna Taylor case.

Undeserved

No one deserves a death sentence for having the wrong ex-boyfriend.

No one deserves a death sentence because they don’t have a stellar reputation.

No one deserves a death sentence because they don’t respond well to authority.

No one deserves a death sentence because of the color of their skin or the neighborhood in which they live.

No one deserves a death sentence because of the job that they have.

No one deserves a death sentence because they are old.

No one deserves a death sentence because they have underlying conditions.

No one deserves a death sentence because they don’t fit into our plan for our life.

We either value life—in its inconvenience and in its imperfection—or we don’t.

We can’t fight for the lives of some while disregarding the lives of others.

It’s inconsistent.

Jacque Adkins, Lexington

Fight continues

While I’m deeply saddened by the outcome of the Breonna Taylor decision, it was expected. The murder of our sister Breonna is another gash to the community that has spent tens of millions of lives to build this country. While I’m angered by this decision, that does not mean we succumb to violence. It is time that we, not only as students but Black students, return to our heritage.

Students and young people have always been the motivation for change. We can see that today when dealing with the crisis climate, and in the ’40s and ’50s during the civil rights movement. Black student alliances and unions were the unequivocal addition that the movement needed, and that support has never ended. This is NOT the second civil rights movement -- the first one never ended, and the Breonna Taylor decision is yet another example of why.

The Transylvania Black Student Alliance continues that support in the civil rights movement and plans to announce further steps to engage our campus and community. We call on all of our allies in this continued fight for social justice. This is our pledge to our community.

“You cannot enjoy the rhythm and ignore the blues. And I say that with my chest.” -Amanda Seales

Jonathan Neal, president,Transylvania Black Student Alliance

‘Poor aim’

One officer involved in Breonna Taylor’s killing was indicted on wanton endangerment, because his shots went into a neighbor’s apartment. In other words, he was charged with poor aim. That’s consistent with the other officers in that over 20 shots were fired. No doubt they face the stiff penalty of extra time on the firing range.

Jim Kelly, Lexington

The real problem

After listening to Attorney General Daniel Cameron detail the events leading up to the shooting of Breonna Taylor, I understand the feeling behind Black Lives Matter. A warrant was issued, and some desk sergeant recruited three policemen to search an apartment at 3 a.m. Whether they knocked or not doesn’t really matter – they broke in. Who if any of us would open a door at 3 a.m. and who, if we had a gun, would not defend ourselves? No one argues that the police shouldn’t have the right to return fire. So now we try the police officers. We are going after the wrong target. Find out why a warrant was issued, and why it had to be executed at 3 a.m.

The only fault I see with the policemen is why they thought it was so important they would risk gunfire by breaking down the door. How stupid is it to try to cover up the real injustice by investigating three policemen and then only indict one for shooting too many times in the neighbor’s wall. Black Lives Matter, and it isn’t going to get any better until we understand and care enough to fix the real problem.

Jim Phelps, Lexington

Go public

I strongly encourage Mayor Linda Gorton and the Lexington Fayette Urban County Council to reject the Lexington Police Department’s upcoming collective bargaining agreement and make the negotiations available to the public. In Fayette County the collective bargaining agreement is negotiated in private and includes protections for police officers that tip the scales of justice in favor of officers and prevent justice in cases like Breonna Taylor. As a concerned citizen, I request that the upcoming collective bargaining agreement negotiations be open and allow for public input. After all, the police are public servants, paid through tax dollars, and the public is the most affected by their actions. LPDaccountability.com has a list of five demands that would help bring equity and accountability to Lexington’s collective bargaining agreement. As a long-time Lexingtonian, University of Kentucky graduate, and small business owner, I highly encourage every citizen to get involved. Current collective bargaining agreements favor the police and are a major contributing factor in why we continue to see no justice for families of those killed by police in our country.

Stuart Waldner, Lexington

Drug tips?

If someone broke into my house without a chance to verify their credentials of a badge held to my peep hole for examination, they would stand a chance of being dead from a .357 Magnum in the chest. The only reason for forceful entry otherwise would have to be determined to be a danger of imminent loss of life. Drug tips, really! Risk an officers’ or another’s life?

Peter Taylor, Lexington

This story was originally published September 25, 2020 at 10:36 AM.