Hello, I hope everyone is having a great day.
 
It’s been about a year since the passing of Breonna Taylor. Many are still mourning her loss and what her family has had to go through. Even though, justice may not have quite been served for Breonna Taylor. Breonna’s family has been fighting for policy changes and advocating for there to be no more no-knock warrants in the city of Louisville. As a result, they were successful and the Louisville, KY, Metro Council passed “Breonna’s Law” unanimously.
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This was a big step and will hopefully lead to no more situations like Breonnas in the city of Louisville, KY. However, as a state we could do so much more to support Breonna Taylor’s family. Last year, House Bill 21 (Breonna’s Law) was introduced and sponsored by 16 democrats. Furthermore, if this bill becomes a law in the state of Kentucky, police officers will be required to have a search warrant and physically knock on a door before entering the premises when executing a search warrant. Additionally, police officers will have to announce themselves in a manner that can be heard by the occupants. Also, House Bill 21 requires all police officers that are present in the execution of a search warrant to wear operating body-worn cameras (these body cameras must be on 5 minutes prior to knocking on a resident’s door).

Recently, this bill just went from the Judiciary to be posted in the committee. It has yet to be voted on, however, time is running out to pass this bill in this cycle. Some of the representatives in the House Standing Committee Judiciary include Ed Massey (Chair), Kim Banta (Vice Chair), Kevin Bratcher, McKenzie Cantrell, Nima Kulkarni and Chad McCoy.

Here is a link to contact legislators in the house that will be voting on this bill https://legislature.ky.gov/Committees/Pages/Committee-Details.aspx?CommitteeRSN=92&CommitteeType=House%20Standing%20Committee.

This is a policy I believe we all should support and push our legislators to pass. Moreover, I think this bill helps police officers be held more accountable and will reduce, if not stop, similar tragedies from occurring here in Kentucky. So let’s keep up the fight for justice and equality everyone.
 
Titus Covington, Advocacy Committee Member 

Social work month has me thinking again about our ethical obligation to be advocates.  We read the Color of Law: A Forgotten History of how our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstien last month for the KSCSW Book Club.  It brought forth a new kind of knowing for me, about the persistent, insidious ways that racism has harmed generations in every possible way.  And now that we know about the injustice in more detail….I can’t stop thinking about what can we do.  If we do nothing, are we condoning it in any way?
I was pleased to see that Lexington has invited this author to a Zoom event where a brief film about his work will be viewed and then a community discussion.  Maybe that is the next thing we can do, to keep learning and growing and practicing awareness of racism in our lives and work.
 
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