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H. 5516
STATUS INFORMATION
House Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Cobb-Hunter, Brawley, Henegan and King
Document Path: l:\council\bills\sm\20095sa20.docx
Introduced in the House on June 24, 2020
Adopted by the House on June 24, 2020
Summary: Breonna Taylor
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6/24/2020 House Introduced and adopted (House Journal-page 18)
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE PASSING OF BREONNA TAYLOR, TO EXTEND THEIR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY AND TO RECOGNIZE SOUTH CAROLINA'S DUTY TO FIGHT SYSTEMIC RACISM AND ITS IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives were shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Breonna Taylor on March 13, 2020, after Louisville police officers broke down the door to her apartment in an attempted drug sting and shot her eight times, and at this time no charges have been filed; and
Whereas, the officers were executing a "no knock" search warrant in a narcotics investigation, according to the Louisville Metro Police Department, when they entered Taylor's apartment just before 1 a.m. on March 13; and
Whereas, interim chief Robert Schroeder said about the officer who shot Taylor, "I find your conduct a shock to the conscience, I am alarmed and stunned you used deadly force in this fashion." Schroeder added, "The result of your action seriously impedes the Department's goal of providing the citizens of our city with the most professional law enforcement agency possible. I cannot tolerate this type of conduct by any member of the Louisville Metro Police Department. Your conduct demands your termination."; and
Whereas, Breonna Taylor was a certified EMT who had two jobs at hospitals in Louisville. Her mother, Tamika Palmer, described her daughter as a young woman who adored her family above all else and who had made plans to succeed. "She had a whole plan on becoming a nurse and buying a house and then starting a family. Breonna had her head on straight, and she was a very decent person," Palmer said. "She didn't deserve this. She wasn't that type of person."; and
Whereas, family members said that she was kind, hardworking, and honest. "She really did not deserve to end her life so horrifically," said Taylor's aunt, Bianca Austin; and
Whereas, Breonna's death is one of many recent incidents of police brutality against Black Americans resulting in death that sparked protests and calls for police reform not only in the United States but throughout the world; and
Whereas, people of color are impacted more greatly by challenges and inequities in many areas including, but not limited to, economic justice, crime, social capital, education, transportation, employment, food access, health behaviors, socioeconomic status, environmental exposure, access to health services, housing, and public safety; and
Whereas, systemic racism also leads to inequities in our criminal justice system and our healthcare delivery system, and South Carolina must commit to fight these inequities in order to improve the quality of life and health of our residents of color; and
Whereas, the General Assembly must take advantage of this transformational period in history by developing a reform agenda based on research, best practices, and significant input from residents about systemic racism; and
Whereas, these recommendations for police reform shall include a process for transparency and accountability through the creation of citizens review boards; and
Whereas, it is time for the State of South Carolina to take action to condemn racism and police brutality as a means to honor Breonna Taylor's life that was tragically cut short. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of Breonna Taylor, extend their deepest sympathy to her family, and recognize South Carolina's duty to fight systemic racism and its impact on communities of color.
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June 29, 2020 at 1:39 PM