Donovan Mitchell Pays Tribute To Breonna Taylor

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Donovan Mitchell paid tribute to Breonna Taylor on social media Thursday morning. The Utah Jazz guard’s posts came one day after Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced there would be no charges against the police officers for the shooting death of Taylor. Instead, one officer was charged with wanton endangerment for shooting his gun into another apartment during the late-night raid in which Taylor was killed by the officers.

Mitchell attended college in Louisville, Kentucky where Taylor was slain and has been an outspoken critic of how the case has been handled.

Mitchell Offers Statement on Breonna Taylor

Mitchell offered the long social post in which he asked when African Americans’ will cease to be viewed as a threat, and recalled several recent incidents of police shootings involving the Black Community.

“I don’t even know where to begin….” Mitchell wrote. “To say I’m angry, sad, disgusted, is an understatement… Louisville is a city that had become my second home so this one feels personal for me …. Breonna Taylor was laying down in her OWN bed in her OWN home and was killed by 3 police officers… As an African American I am hurting not just for Breonna Taylor but for every victim that has come about due to police brutality… We as a country need to do better… justice needed to be served and it wasn’t at all… all that was settled was 12 million dollars… is that what it’s come down to? Money over justice?

“When will being black stop being a threat? I have cops who are friends and members of my family. I understand there are good cops in the country. But we have to address that there are also cops to see African Americans as threats and that’s unacceptable! This isn’t political it’s simply not being afraid of a child with a toy gun… a child with a hoodie on… a woman for sleeping in her bed… a man for going on a jog… hat’s it!! I just wanted to write the small piece to just say Breonna, I’m sorry and the justice system has failed you we haven’t and will not forget your name!”

We’re Sorry Breonna😔🤦🏾‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/Vr6iPvFQtl

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) September 24, 2020

Mitchell has History as a Voice for Taylor

This is not the first time Mitchell has used his voice to show support for Breonna Taylor and her family. When the NBA season restarted in Orlando, Mitchell wore custom shoes that represented Taylor and other victims of police brutality.

“I feel like as African American’s we’ve been crying for help and crying for someone to listen to us for so long,” Mitchell said in a video for Bleacher Report Kicks. “With what’s been going on in the world now this is the perfect time to go out there and continue to have this uncomfortable conversation.”

.@Spidadmitchell plans to honor Breonna Taylor with his opening night kicks. This is B/R Kicks Signed ✍️ pic.twitter.com/QyqZSM1GPm

— B/R Kicks (@brkicks) July 30, 2020

Additionally, Mitchell has called for Cameron, Kentucky’s attorney general to arrest the three officers who shot and killed Taylor. During the league’s restart, Mitchell wore the phrase “Say Her Name” on the back of his jersey and has changed his twitter avatar to a photo of Taylor.

After the Jazz defeated the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA’s first game back from a four and a half month, hiatus, Mitchell called Cameron out on Twitter regarding the officers.

“Great team win felt good to be back!!” Mitchell tweeted. “But would be great if  @kyoag would ARREST BREONNA TAYLORS MURDERERS!!!”

Earlier this month, the city of Louisville paid a $12 million settlement against the Louisville Metro Police Department to the Taylor family. Additionally, the city promised to institute more than a dozen police reforms in hopes of preventing further similar incidents.