George Clooney, Ava DuVernay, LeBron James and More React To The Grand Jury’s Breonna Taylor Decision

Facts are facts, no matter where you are geographically.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron has rightfully received the criticism he deserved. For one, he supported the decision not to charge Breonna Taylor’s killers with murder, and two, he had the audacity to tell the people of Kentucky to watch out for state outsiders, as if the impact of Taylor’s death was only a local issue.

“There will be celebrities, influencers, and activists who have never lived in Kentucky who try to tell us how to feel, suggesting they understand the facts of this case, and that they know our community and the commonwealth better than we do,” said Cameron Wednesday while announcing the grand jury decision. “But, they do not.”

Since his senseless statements, many celebrities have responded and are speaking out against the decision, including Kentucky native George Clooney.

“I was born and raised in Kentucky. Cut tobacco on the farms of Kentucky. Both my parents and my sister live in Kentucky. I own a home in Kentucky, and I was there last month,” Clooney said in a statement sent to The Hollywood Reporter. “The justice system I was raised to believe in holds people responsible for their actions. Her name was Breonna Taylor, and she was shot to death in her bed by three white police officers, who will not be charged with any crime for her death.”

“I know the commonwealth. And I was taught in the schools and churches of Kentucky what is right and what is wrong. I’m ashamed of this decision,” Clooney added.

Yesterday’s decision invoked sadness, anger, and hurt among many high-profile people who took to social media to express their frustrations and to add to the outcries for Ms. Taylor.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James shared his disappointment over the grand jury’s report, which announced that none of the officers involved in the 26-year-old EMT’s death would be charged for the killing. Only one officer, Brett Hankison, was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment, which aren’t directly tied to the shooting, The Hill reports.

“I’ve been lost for words today.” James tweeted. “I’m devastated, hurt, sad, mad! We want Justice for Breonna, yet Justice was met for her neighbor’s apartment walls and not her beautiful life. Was I surprised at the verdict. Absolutely not, but dammit I was & still am hurt and heavy hearted! I send my love to Breonna mother, family, and friends! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!!”

Former NBA player Jalen Rose and current analyst put on his best suit in case he was fired for what he was about to say on air ahead of the Miami Heat v. Boston Celtics game Wednesday night.

“I just want people to know that Blacks are hurting—and as we relate it to sports, that sports that are predominately Black—the NBA, the WNBA, and the NFL—players are preforming with heavy hearts. We’re still showing up to try and do our jobs. And I can’t lie to you all. I was looking in my closet like, “I am going to wear something fresh today because if I say something to get me fired, at least would look crisp,” Rose said.

He then shared his personal comparison between Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old white male and Trump supporter who allegedly shot and killed two people and injured a third during a protest in Minnesota to Taylor’s death that happened in her own home. “Because when Kyle Rittenhouse in Milwaukee, as a 17-year-old kills two people and yet three cops aren’t directly charged for killing Breonna Taylor, it shows you how they feel about Black lives in America,” Rose added during the ESPN pregame show. “What I want to encourage people to do there; my favorite sport is actually football. The important thing in that game….it is 400 years of slavery to 0. We know we are not going to win, but we still have to continue to move the ball forward. Put people behind you in a position to be successful.”

“That’s what we are here to do today,” Rose said.” That’s what the NBA players are here to do. And that’s why I applaud them. Because while they’re out here performing and trying to win a championship, understand that this is really painful to show up to work and try to entertain.”

A lot of people agree that there needs to be a change. Everyone needs to wake up, even if the prevalent inequality and police injustice doesn’t ravish white communities like it does Black communities.

In fact, as a result, Color of Change’s Rashad Robinson is calling on Hollywood to be apart of this progressive movement. “There are so many in Hollywood working to make positive change, changing not just how they do business but also changing the content they put out into the world and I hope this is a reminder of how urgent that work truly is,” the organization’s executive director said to the Hollywood Reporter.

Color of Change is one of the organizations that spearheaded Justice for Taylor, and other victims killed at the hands of police. Its campaign advocates for officers to be fired and charged with murder and calls on the entertainment industry to do its part by producing films and shows that bring awareness to police brutality and abuse of power, as well as the distorted representation of Black people and other minority groups.
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Robinson discussed what Hollywood can do and how the organization will also call on tech companies like Facebook to help dismantle the spread of white nationalism on social platforms.
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Meanwhile, Filmmaker Ava DuVernay believes that one day, “Justice will come. And it will come from us.” She weighed in on Wednesday’s upsetting decision in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter. “Our sis. We live in a world of crooks with titles and criminals with badges that will not give you Justice today,” she said. “But Justice will come. And it will come from us. Pushing and pulling, plotting, and protesting, piercing the blue walls designed to terrorize us. Justice will come. Not today. But it will. Until then, we give you what we can. We give you glory. That word means that we will take pride in you. We will honor you. We will never forget you. We can give you this today. And tomorrow. And onward.”
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And until that Justice comes, it’s forever #JusticeForBreonnaTaylor. Let’s keep her name alive!