shark tank, Black Entrepreneurs Day, Daymond, John, deal, stalker, grants, Black entrepreneurs

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 3, 2024

Daymond John Brings Black Entrepreneurs Day To Atlanta: $1M In Grants, Star Power From Kelly Rowland And 2Chainz

Daymond John shares what he has planned for the 5th annual Black Entrepreneurs Day in Atlanta.

Daymond John will mark the fifth anniversary of Black Entrepreneurs Day in Atlanta for the first time.

On Nov. 22, John’s signature Black Entrepreneurs Day (BED) will be taking over Atlanta’s historic Fox Theater for its celebration of Black Excellence and Opportunity. This year’s event is free for all to attend, and it includes branded activations that allow attendees to elevate their business and brand for the foreseeable future.

From insightful discussions with an inspiring lineup of guests to the NAACP Small Business Powershift Grant Program—which will award over $1 million in grants to more than 40 Black-owned businesses—Black Entrepreneurs Day offers everything a Black business owner needs to elevate their enterprise to the next level. This year’s event is a special one for John; in addition to hosting BED in Atlanta for the first time, the event will be live for all to enjoy.

“We’re doing it live this year, we’re always trying to enhance what we have,” John tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“I think that we also have added another element to it called the “Entrepreneur Plaza,” which, if you want to come earlier, you can come and a company like Constant Contact is taking headshots. Hilton for Business, Chase, Chase Wealth Management is there, U.S. Navy. So many different things are added to it.”

It’s set to be a star-studded event with special appearances from Grammy-winning artist and philanthropist Kelly Rowland, the iconic entertainer Flavor Flav, influential media personality Charlamagne tha God, Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles (presented by J.P. Morgan Wealth Management), financial educators Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings from “Earn Your Leisure,” and a live performance by Atlanta’s own multiplatinum rapper 2Chainz presented by Raising Cane’s.

Under the NAACP Small Business Powershift Grant Program, entrepreneurs can apply for the Powershift Grant and become one of 40 businesses awarded a share of over $1 million in grants. This year, partners, including JPMorgan Chase, Hilton, T-Mobile for Business, and Constant Contact, will contribute a combined total of $100,000 in grants, with each individual grant valued at $25,000.

“We’re very passionate about what we do,” John says of the Black community. “I think that with the democratizing of the retail space with things like AI and social media, we can empower ourselves now. Support ourselves and support each other.”

Given the strong sponsorship support for BED 2024, John sees it as clear evidence that major corporations recognize the value of investing in the Black community, even in the face of opposition from anti-DEI efforts.

“There’s a lot of different other cultures who love to support us too. They love our music, they love our food, they love everything about us, and they just want to know how can they support us,” John notes.

“I think that if we look at that side of the aspect of it, I mean, we can never profit or thrive over the shortcoming, but we can always find these gems and these ways to grow off of what we are. And we’re a resilient people that everybody loves.”

Launched in 2020 to address the community’s challenges following events surrounding George Floyd, Black Entrepreneurs Day was established to shift the focus from hardship to empowerment. Committed to uplifting Black entrepreneurs, the event seeks to educate and inspire through conversations with iconic Black leaders and celebrity guests, features star-studded musical performances, and offers crucial financial support through the NAACP Powershift Grant program.

Tickets for Black Entrepreneurs Day 2024 are free and available for registration at BlackEntrepreneursDay.com now. Press play to learn more about this year’s event.

Mike Tyson, Jake Paul, Boxing, professional record, July 20, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations

by Daniel Johnson

November 3, 2024

Ultimate Mike Tyson-Jake Paul Boxing Match ‘Experience’ Will Run You $2M

The long-awaited fight will be broadcast live on Netflix on Nov. 15.

If you want the ultimate MVP experience for the upcoming fight between Jake Paul and Hall of Fame boxer Mike Tyson, you will need to shell out $2 million to get it.

According to ESPN, Elevate designed the exclusive premium package dubbed the “MVP Owner’s Experience” to seat two people in a private suite less than six feet from ringside.

According to the consulting firm, it is the closest seating to the ring ever approved by Texas’ boxing regulators and features premium leather seats.

The package includes a pre-fight locker room visit with Paul and Tyson, a chance to appear onstage at the pre-fight weigh-in, autographed gloves from both boxers, a security detail, and personal concierge service during fight week.

This is in addition to receiving four seats in the first two rows at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, which seats 80,000 people.

Elevate and Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, which he formed in 2021 with Nakisa Bidarian, joined forces to sell the MVP Owner’s Experience and other hospitality packages for the fight.

It remains to be seen if the fight itself will justify this particular price point. Tyson has previously indicated that he doesn’t see the fight going the distance unless he has to chase his quarry.

“If I don’t have to catch him, you can expect a Round 1 knockout,” Tyson said in an October news conference. “But I may have to catch him because I anticipate this guy running from me.”

Tyson also indicated that he has largely become a better person in retirement than he was as an active fighter.

“When I was fighting professionally, I was too stressed out,” Tyson said. “I never had a chance to relax or enjoy my championships because everything was coming at me. There were lawsuits and divorces. I never enjoyed myself as a human being. This is a moment in time when I can enjoy myself as a human being. I have better life skills now than I did while fighting.”

The fight will be broadcast live on Netflix on Nov. 15, and according to Front Office Sports, exists as part of the streaming giant’s $5 billion bet on streaming live sports, headlined by its deal with TKO, the parent company of WWE and TKO, that will see “Raw” (formerly “Monday Night Raw”) broadcast on Netflix but also picks up international rights for Netflix regarding “Smackdown,” “WrestleMania,” “SummerSlam,” and “Royal Rumble.”

Parents, Timeout Box, NY Elementary Students

by Mary Spiller

November 3, 2024

Restoration Underway: Oldest Black Schoolhouse In America From 18th-Century To Open As Museum

The Williamsburg Bray School will open its doors to the public as a historical education site next spring.

The oldest surviving schoolhouse for Black children in the United States is set to open its doors as a historical site for the public in the spring of 2025. The Williamsburg Bray School in Virginia is being restored carefully by historians and construction crews, aiming to preserve the history of a building that educated hundreds of Black children, both enslaved and free, from 1760 to 1774. The schoolhouse is expected to open to the public in 2025.

Although restoration has been in the works for quite some time, the crews have finally finished restoring and furnishing a main room on the first floor and have moved on to the next one. Their work has revealed original flooring and walling from 1760 to 18th-century tool marks on some of the original planks and wood. The construction crew and restorers have also reported finding a fragment of a writing plate, letters written by people who attended the Williamsburg Bray School, and original ceramic work from the time.

Colonial Williamsburg’s historic tradespeople—including blacksmiths, weavers, and bookbinders—have been working to create replicas of items that would have originally furnished the school, all in preparation for its public opening. Using 18th-century techniques, they are crafting items like desks, chairs, and books to fill the Williamsburg Bray School.

Ahead of the public opening, the historic structure was formally dedicated, with several figures sharing insights into the building’s rich history.

Colonial Williamsburg’s Executive Director of Architectural Preservation, Matt Webster, told Smithsonian Magazine, “You’re walking on the floors they walked on in 1760. When you touch the bottom post on the stairs, the wear, the rounded edges, that’s years of bumping and touching. Those types of things are all over the buildings.”

Nicole Brown, an American Studies scholar at William & Mary, added, “The opening of the building is deeply significant, but the work does not stop when the building opens.

According to Smithsonian Magazine, a London-based charity opened the Williamsburg Bray School in 1760 at the recommendation of founding father Benjamin Franklin. During the school’s 14 years of operation, a white woman named Ann Wager acted as the only teacher in the building. Wager reportedly taught around 400 students aged 3 and 10, and roughly 90% of the children were still enslaved at the time of their schooling. Wager taught the kids to read and write, sew, and mend clothes with a faith-based curriculum that provided literacy to many enslaved people who were barred access to education before Williamsburg Bray School.

RELATED CONTENT: Florida Colored School Gets Historic Marker

by Mitti Hicks

November 3, 2024

HUD Unveils $512M Plan To Combat Youth Homelessness In Major Cities

The money will be awarded to 14 communities through HUD's Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program.

An estimated 4.2 million youth and young adults experience homelessness in the United States each year. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is trying to change that. HUD just announced funding to tackle youth homelessness housing nationwide.

HUD has awarded $72 million to 14 communities, including five rural jurisdictions, through its Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP). The funding will support several initiatives related to youth homelessness. HUD officials say top priorities include rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, and host homes.

The latest round of funding is part of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala’s priority to tackle the nation’s homelessness crisis. The Biden-Harris administration is prioritizing new resources and programs to help communities quickly reconnect people experiencing homelessness to housing.

“Young people across our country deserve a stable home and a supportive community,” said HUD Agency Head Adrianne Todman in a HUD press release. “We are leading the charge in partnering with communities, our federal partners, and youth who have experienced homelessness to increase the housing supply for those among the most vulnerable in our communities and make significant strides in the fight to prevent and end youth homelessness.”

Communities in Chicago, Southern and Central California, Las Vegas, and Des Moines, Iowa, will receive the most funding for support. Youth experiencing homelessness will have access to rental assistance for affordable housing units. The funding will also support wrap-around services to improve youth’s overall health and wellness. It will also help their ability to obtain and maintain stable housing.

According to HUD, awardees are uniquely positioned to design solutions that match the needs of their respective communities. Special attention is paid to creating equitable strategies to assist vulnerable homeless youths, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and differently-abled persons.

“I’m proud to share that this is the eighth round of YHDP funding to be awarded,” said Marion McFadden, principal deputy assistant secretary for Community Planning and Development. “Including these awards, to date, HUD has awarded YHDP funding to 124 communities, representing a $512 million investment to prevent and end youth homelessness and pave the way to ensure that everyone has access to safe, stable housing.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 3, 2024

Chicago Couple Funding Billboards In Swing States To Encourage Black Men To Vote

Gary and Denise Gardner have invested $500,000 to launch the 'We Gotta Vote' billboard campaign.

A Chicago couple launched a billboard initiative in response to concerns about potential low voter turnout among Black men on Election Day.

Gary and Denise Gardner have invested $500,000 to launch the “We Gotta Vote” billboard campaign, WTTW reports. Inspired by Spike Lee’s film “She’s Gotta Have It,” the campaign has strategically placed billboards in key swing states such as Nebraska, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Ohio, aiming to engage undecided voters.

“It sounded suspect to me,” Gary said of murmurings about low voter turnout among Black men. “I run into young Black men every day here in Chicago. So we put together a comprehensive marketing campaign.”

“I think the billboard campaign was a great one, because it not only reached about 350,000 men in total, but more importantly, it reached their families.”

The couple drew on their previous experience working on campaigns for former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington, former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, and former President Barack Obama to help boost voter turnout. The three billboard designs feature a different Black man since there’s “no one image that encompasses young Black men,” Gardner said.

Denise added the phrase “We Can’t Go Back” to the “We Gotta Vote” campaign, and while the couple isn’t telling voters who to cast their ballot for, the couple has put their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.

“She’s transcended because of her experience being in state government, in federal government, being a vice president,” Gardner said. “And she’s transcended race or gender. She doesn’t talk about her race or gender. She talks about being a president because she’s been elevated to that position.”

New polling conducted by the NAACP Oct. 11-17 shows approximately 20% of younger Black men indicate their support for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. While support for Trump has declined since August, this trend remains a concern for the Harris campaign as she depends on robust turnout from Black men in closely contested swing state races and has been actively working to address this issue.

Howard University, 14th Amendment Center For Law And Democracy

by Sidnee Michelle Douyon

November 2, 2024

Go Bison! Howard University Celebrates Centennial Homecoming

Howard's annual homecoming celebration is a staple event for not only current college students and alumni.

As a distinguished alumna of Howard University, Vice President Kamala Harris stands on the precipice of the 2024 presidential election, gaining the university unprecedented attention. Recognized as the top HBCU by Forbes, Howard continues its legacy of excellence and tradition. Its annual homecoming celebration is a hallmark event that resonates deeply with students and alumni, becoming a cultural staple. This year’s took place Oct. 13-20.

The first official homecoming event occurred in 1924, with the university’s alums organizing it to reconnect with their alma mater. This event marked a significant shift in how Howard engaged with its graduates, fostering a sense of belonging and pride among alums and current students.

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Over the decades, homecoming has evolved into a weeklong celebration featuring various events, including parades, fundraisers, shows, parties, and the highly-anticipated football game. The event draws thousands of attendees from across the country and attracts not only alums but also celebrities and dignitaries, showcasing the university’s influence in the African American community and broader society.

Today, Howard’s homecoming is renowned for its vibrant atmosphere. It features performances by famous artists, a grand parade, and various social events that emphasize the university’s legacy and ongoing impact. From “Bison For Kamala” events to performances from Doug E. Fresh, Coco Jones, DJ D-Nice, and more, the campus was buzzing with pride and excitement.

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As the centennial celebration commenced, top brands like Jordan, Fenty, Sunglass Hut, Procter & Gamble, Pronghorn Co., Gran Coramino, and Hilton held engaging activities on and off campus.

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BLACK ENTERPRISE headed to Howard University and spoke to reps from Hilton, which hosted a large group of alumni, and the “Homecoming At The Mecca Team,” which planned most of the weekend’s headlining events.

Bonnie Campagnuolo, brand leader of Embassy Suites by Hilton, spoke to BE about the historic weekend.

“Community events like Howard University’s Homecoming are invaluable opportunities for people from across the country to gather and reconnect, said Campagnuolo. “At Embassy Suites, we strive to provide an upscale, approachable environment with welcoming spaces for people to meet and socialize as well as a spacious and comfortable home base for guests to rest, refuel and refresh.”

The “Homecoming At The Mecca” team is comprised of alumni Brandon Banks, Trey Poindexter, Duclas Charles, Major Dobbins, Steve Owens, Brandon Palm, Khalil Ajiborode, and Ricardo Jones, who also spoke with BE about their pledge to plan homecoming experiences for students and alumni.

Black Men XCEL 2024 speaker Duclas Charles remarked, “We’ve (The Team at Homecoming at the Mecca) been a part of creating memories for our friends since our various eras in undergrad, and it’s always fulfilling to create spaces authentically curated for Bison, by Bison bringing friends together again, allowing them to relive those days that make Howard U the Mecca and our favorite place on earth.”

Brandon Banks explained the significance of Howard University’s highly anticipated and attended events.

“As a Howard University alum and MBA graduate, my connection to the university runs deep. Planning experiences for students and fellow alumni is more than just an event for me but a way to nurture the sense of community that Howard embodies. Seeing 3,000 alumni create new memories at the National Museum of African American History and Culture is a memory I hold dear to my heart and will cherish forever,” he said.

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As the weekend concluded, unforgettable moments went down in Howard’s history, such as when supermodel Anok Yai returned to the campus where she was discovered in 2017. The “Back The Yard” Homecoming giving challenge, which supports student scholarships, made the weekend one to remember.

After 100 years, Howard University Homecoming continues to bring everyone back home for one of the biggest and most popular HBCU homecomings.

Chicago, Mayor, Brandon Johnson, national guard, Trump,

by Mary Spiller

November 2, 2024

Chicago School Board President Resigns After ‘Deeply Disturbing’ Social Media Posts Surface

Mayor Brandon Johnson called Rev. Mitchell Johnson’s post sexist, antisemitic, and conspiratorial.

Rev. Mitchell Ikenna Johnson, the recently appointed head of Chicago’s school board, resigned from his position on Oct. 31. According to reports, he was allegedly exposed for having made antisemitic, sexist, and 9-11 conspiracy posts on his social media accounts.

Rev.

Johnson, president of the Chicago Board of Education for just seven days before the incident, resigned immediately. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson requested Johnson take action after seeing the statements from his social media “that were not only hurtful but deeply disturbing.”

The mayor said in a press release, “I want to be clear: Antisemitic, misogynistic, and conspiratorial statements are unacceptable.” The referenced social media posts from Mitchell Johnson’s accounts come from past months. As reported by CNN, they were so disruptive that along with Mayor Brandon Johnson calling for Mitchell’s resignation, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the majority of the Chicago city council pushed for his resignation.

One of the posts in question includes a photo of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that Rev. Johnson reposted in January. The caption allegedly read, “3,000 experts agree: 9/11 really was an inside job. Facts!!”

Rev. Johnson also shared sexist views on his social media when he reposted a picture on his personal Facebook account that was overlaid with the message: “When a man earns money he dreams of giving his family and wife the best. But when a woman earns money she feels she does not need her man and her family. Sounds harsh but it’s reality.” He captioned the post in May, “Sad Facts.”

In another post that Chicago Council members are calling antisemitic, a video was posted of a Max Blumenthal podcast episode where a fan asked if Hamas began the Israel-Palestine conflict with their Oct. 7 attack last year. In the video, Blumenthal states that Israel initiated the war in 1948.

Rev. Johnson captioned the post, “If you allow ignorance to be your guide, injustice will eventually be at your front door. We should all support a free and independent Palestinian State.”

Mayor Johnson appointed Mitchell Johnson as the board’s president, which prompted him to act swiftly after the social media posts were revealed. Mitchell Johnson’s comments on the Israel-Palestine conflict ignited debate, coinciding with the shooting of a Jewish man in a hate crime while walking to a Chicago synagogue recently.

“We want every single child in the city of Chicago to feel protected and loved, and particularly right now our Jewish community,” the mayor said.

City council members called for Mitchell Johnson to step down in a letter written by 50th Ward Alderman Debra Silverstein and signed by other council members. Silverstein wrote, “We are deeply troubled by the antisemitic and pro-Hamas comments made by Rev. Mitchell L Ikenna Johnson. The thousands of Jewish families who send their kids to Chicago Public Schools deserve representation who values them and does not express hate toward the Jewish community.”

Mitchell Johnson has since apologized for his comments on social media.

by Daniel Johnson

November 2, 2024

Mayor Eric Adams’ Federal Bribery Trial Date Set

Adams' trial has been set for April 2025, but the presiding judge expects for it to end in June, as the mayoral election ramps up.

Judge Dale Ho, a federal judge in Manhattan, has set a trial date for New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

According to Politico, Judge Ho set the trial date for April 21, 2025, almost two months ahead of the Democratic primary in June for New York City’s 2025 mayoral election.

Adams’ lawyer, Alex Spiro, told the court, “In this city, with an election happening, the court should take into account that he is not just sitting here presumed innocent anymore. It doesn’t give him a realistic chance. If he still has this hanging over his head, that impacts the election, period.”

Judge Ho said the public should have an answer regarding whether Adams committed a crime while in office.

“I do think it’s important for the public to have an answer,” Ho said in court regarding the case.

He also suggested that he expects the trial to last four to six weeks, which would mean it would end sometime in early June, the month of the primary election.

According to The New York Times, Adams has already spent most of the $1.8 million he raised for his legal defense, which the outlet speculated could factor into the case; the Times reported some concern over Adams’ ability to cover the costs if the government adds more charges.

One of Adams’ lawyers, John Bash, a former special assistant to former President Donald Trump, argued in court, as Adams watched, that the mayor calling the Fire Department concerning a certificate of occupancy to the Turkish consulate didn’t meet the requirements of the federal bribery charge.

“If this amounts to pressure,” Bash told the court, “then anything does.”

Meanwhile, Hagan Scotten, an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, argued that the definition of federal bribery should be given to the jury rather than have the count dismissed ahead of the trial.

Scotten also clarified the government’s argument for federal bribery.

Of note, according to Wired, almost a year after the federal government seized the mayor’s phone, they still have been unable to crack it.

Adams claims to have “forgot” the six-digit code he switched to before the phone was seized.

Adams’ lawyers have requested a hearing, claiming that the prosecution was leaking information about their investigation to the media, but Judge Ho said there wasn’t enough evidence to support their claims.

The judge then warned both sets of lawyers that the case would be tried in the courtroom and not by the media through a ruling he issued.

“The parties are cautioned that this case is to be tried in the courtroom,” he wrote, “and not in the press.”

by Daniel Johnson

November 2, 2024

Halloween Parade In Pennsylvania Slammed For ‘Racist’ Float Depicting Kamala Harris In Chains

The float depicted one person dressed as the former president and another person, dressed as Harris, tethered to the vehicle by chains.

A float that took part in a Halloween parade in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 30 received backlash over what many parties described as a racist depiction of Vice President Kamala Harris.

According to The New York Times, the float depicted two people, one dressed as former President Trump and the other as Vice President Harris. The latter was connected to the vehicle by what appeared to be chains connected to her wrists.

Diane Bailey, the Democratic mayor of Mount Pleasant, described it as hateful and racist.

“It was a hateful and racist thing, and I just can’t tell you how worked up I get when I talk about it,” Bailey told the paper. “It shouldn’t be any place in this country, and I shouldn’t have to see it in my little town.”

Although no one said the name James Byrd Jr., the Jasper, Texas, man who was dragged to his death by Ku Klux Klan members in 1998, his lynching was alluded to by Bailey and one Mount Pleasant resident, Josh Huff.

The mayor also gave her take on the float to WPXI, “The worst part of it was that there was either a rope or a chain attached to the back of the vehicle, and there was a woman who was to resemble Kamala Harris in handcuffs and chained to the back of the vehicle as though they were dragging her.”

Mayor Bailey concluded, “This needs to stop. In this county, we need to go back to being educated adults, we need to go back to acting like adults.”

Daylon A. Davis, president of the Pittsburgh branch of the NAACP, described the float as a harmful symbol of racism in America.

“This appalling portrayal goes beyond the realm of Halloween satire or free expression,” Davis said in a statement. “It is a harmful symbol that evokes a painful history of violence, oppression, and racism that Black and Brown communities have long endured here in America.”

Joanna E. McClinton, the Democratic Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and a Black woman, said the values expressed by the float are inconsistent with the values of the state she represents.

I’m horrified by the disgusting display of hate at this week’s Halloween parade in Mount Pleasant. Depicting Vice President Harris in chains at the hands of her opponent is grounded symbolism from our country’s painful past.
— Rep. Joanna McClinton (@RepMcClinton) November 1, 2024

“Depicting Vice President Harris in chains at the hands of her opponent is grounded symbolism from our country’s painful past,” Rep. McClinton wrote on Twitter. “Exhibitions like these are never appropriate in a civil discourse and are inconsistent with our values as Pennsylvanians.”

McClinton also called on local leaders to condemn the hateful display and to hold the perpetrators accountable.

“With such a display of hate in their community, leaders should not be silent, so I’m calling on local officials, including my colleagues in the General Assembly, to join me in condemning this hate. Those responsible need to be held accountable and restore the community’s trust. We need to work together to move Pennsylvania forward, not backward.”

As McClinton alluded to in her statement, the mayor, who informed the Times that parade participants are neither registered nor vetted, has not yet identified those who participated in the parade on that float.

Perhaps the most damning commentary regarding the float comes from local Huff. In his comments to WPXI, he compared what he witnessed at the parade to a lynching reenactment.

“This is not a good look, this is simulating a lynching down Main Street in Mount Pleasant. It is not the community I grew up in, not the community I came back to. It was dark. It was dark. This has been escalated way beyond what it should be. Somebody in power had to say hey, yeah, that’s fine. That’s okay.”

The Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department, which has sponsored the parade for more than 70 years, took responsibility for allowing the float in the parade and vowed to do better in its efforts to support the community’s children in a Nov. 1 post to its Facebook account.

“We, the members of the Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department, want to take a moment to sincerely apologize for allowing the offensive participants to take part in the Mount Pleasant Annual Halloween Parade last evening,” the fire department wrote. “We do not share in the values represented by those participants, and we understand how it may have hurt or offended members of our community.”

The fire department concluded its statement, “The annual Halloween Parade is a first come, first serve event and we have traditionally only provided safety & traffic control. We will be reviewing our planning processes to prevent a situation like this from happening again. Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to make our events more welcoming for everyone.”

Breonna Taylor,charges, police reform,Louisville

by Daniel Johnson

November 2, 2024

Kentucky Officer Found Guilty Of Using Excessive Force In Raid That Killed Breonna Taylor

Former Louisville Police Department officer Brett Hankinson was found guilty of using excessive force in raid that killed Breonna Taylor.

Brett Hankison, the former Louisville Police Department officer who shot and killed Breonna Taylor in 2020, was found guilty of using excessive force by a federal jury on Nov. 2.

According to The Associated Press, this is the first conviction of any of the officers who were involved in the no-knock raid that ended Taylor’s life.

After previously clearing Hankison of another charge of using excessive force on Taylor’s neighbors when he shot indiscriminately into their apartments, some members of the jury were emotional after delivering the latest verdict.

“Breonna Taylor’s life mattered,” Assistant Attorney General Kirsten Clarke, who is part of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, said in a statement. “We hope the jury’s verdict recognizing this violation of Ms. Taylor’s civil and constitutional rights brings some small measure of comfort to her family and loved ones who have suffered so deeply from the tragic events of March 2020.”

Tamika Palmer, Taylor’s mother, told reporters outside of the courthouse that it was a difficult process for her.

“It took a lot of time. It took a lot of patience. It was hard. The jurors took their time to really understand that Breonna deserved justice,” Palmer said.

During the raid, Hankison shot 10 bullets into Taylor’s windows and the glass door of her apartment but didn’t hit anyone.

Bernice King, the daughter of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., posted to her X account that the conviction was a long-awaited moment of accountability.

Today’s conviction of a former Kentucky detective for his role in the raid that took #BreonnaTaylor’s life is a long-awaited moment of accountability. While it cannot restore Breonna to her family, it represents a crucial step in the pursuit of justice and a reminder that no one… pic.twitter.com/wfMJhjenTA
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) November 2, 2024

“Today’s conviction of a former Kentucky detective for his role in the raid that took Breonna Taylor’s life is a long-awaited moment of accountability. While it cannot restore Breonna to her family, it represents a crucial step in the pursuit of justice and a reminder that no one should be above the law.”

King continued, “Breonna’s life mattered, and her legacy is a call to keep pushing for a system that values every life equally. Let us keep pressing forward—until justice, dignity, and safety are a reality for all.”

Hankison’s conviction carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for March 12, 2025, and will be carried out by U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings.

Hankison’s lawyers argued throughout the trial that his actions were intended to protect his fellow officers after Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, shot one of the officers when police used a battering ram to break down her door.

Hankison testified that he moved away after Walker shot, rounded the corner, and fired into both Taylor’s glass door and a window.

Prosecutors made the closing argument that these actions constituted deadly force.

“(Hankison) violated one of the most fundamental rules of deadly force: If they cannot see the person they’re shooting at, they cannot pull the trigger,” prosecutors told the court.

According to NBC News, Attorney General Merrick Garland released a statement following the guilty verdict.

“His use of deadly force was unlawful and put Ms. Taylor in harm’s way,” Garland said. “This verdict is an important step toward accountability for the violation of Breonna Taylor’s civil rights, but justice for the loss of Ms. Taylor is a task that exceeds human capacity.”