NAACP Santa Cruz County Branch statement honoring Breonna Taylor

       March 13th, 2021

The NAACP of Santa Cruz County honors the life of Breonna Taylor, who died a year ago today. She was a strong 26 years oldBlack woman who died senselessly, when officers answered a “no knock” warrant. She worked for the University of Louisville Health as a full-time Emergency Medical Technician and was a former emergency medical tech. But Breonna was so much more than her job. She was a talented and dedicated 26-year young person who loved her family and her community. She was a daughter, sister, niece, and friend to many. She dedicated her life to helping others. She was the kind of person you would want as your neighbor: responsible, caring, skilled, and community minded. Service was her standard. She received accolades and awards for her work. She was an extraordinary person living an ordinary life- like most of us. Her mother recalled that when Breonna was a child she was computer literate, loved to play double-dutch and wanted to be a nurse. Breonna was filled with hopes and dreams for the future.

We all suffer for a loss such as this. We all need to understand this does not have to happen. We all need to understand this happens toooften to African American womenand men. We all need to say enough is enough, it is too much. Change is not inevitable, it is created. Such “means facing a system that does not lend itself to (our) needs and devising means by which (We) can change that system.” (Ella Baker). Breonna Taylor. WE love you. We honor you. We carry your name with us daily. The work We do to bring about peace is in your memory. The work We do to bring about forgiveness is in memory of you.

Even as We honor Breonna’s memory, the work continues. Brenda Griffin, the president of NAACP has an open dialogue with Santa Cruz Police Chief Mills on criminal justice issues. Chief Mills says that the department has made several policy changes, one of them being the banning of the “no knock” warrants in Santa Cruz. This policy comes in the aftermath of the shooting of Breonna Taylor. Our local NAACP branch andother Black community leaders continue to meet with local law enforcement to bring about policing policy change in the Santa Cruz County community.

Without changes in policing policy and accountability, what happened to Breonna will continue to happen to others. The NAACP Santa Cruz County branch continues to strive to make change to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race, and don’t have to live in fear for their lives. We have hopes and dreams for our collective future. We say your name Breonna Taylor. We say your name!!