August 8, 2020

 

The Honorable Daniel Cameron

Office of the Attorney General

700 Capital Avenue, Suite 118

Frankfort, KY 40601

 

Attorney General Cameron:

On behalf of the members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., I write to you regarding our fraternity’s concern over the lack of an arrest in the officer-involved shooting death of Breonna Taylor. More than four months have elapsed since officers from the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) killed Ms. Taylor during the botched execution of an erroneous “no-knock” warrant. Ms. Taylor’s death has left many people wondering when justice will come.

As the governing head of an international fraternity, comprised of approximately 100,000 members, we have grave concerns over the inaction and the lack of transparency surrounding the completion of the homicide investigation into Ms. Taylor’s death. We are flummoxed as to why no charges have been filed considering that Ms. Taylor died by LMPD’s decision to perform an unannounced raid at the wrong home and without realizing that the suspect they were searching for was already in custody.

As tension and outrage continue to mount around the globe, we join the call of countless others who demand that your office bring justice to the Taylor family. We demand that you move boldly and demonstrate to the world that the value of a Black person’s life matters in this country and to your geographical area in particular. Your office has the power to bring criminal charges against each of the officers who was involved in Ms. Taylor’s death. Your influence has the authority to provide the public with periodic updates to reassure our country and the world that nothing less than a fair and transparent investigation is ongoing.

Ms. Taylor was a decorated emergency management technician, a model citizen of the State of Kentucky, and an American hero who should be with us today. She spent her final days serving as an essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic and saving lives. Now we ask, will you stand up and speak up for her life? We urge you to do the right thing. Address the inaction surrounding her death, arrest the officers responsible for Breonna’s death forthwith, and reassure the country and the world that our justice system still works for everyone no matter their race.

Respectfully,

Everett B. Ward, Ph.D.

General President