Celebrities demand justice for Breonna Taylor on her 27th birthday

• Celebrities called for justice for Breonna Taylor on Friday, the late medical worker's 27th birthday.
• Taylor was fatally shot by police officers who entered her apartment on March 13 using an illegal "no-knock warrant" during a narcotics bust in Louisville, Ky.
• The FBI is investigating the case, however none of the officers have been arrested or fired.
• Figures like John Legend, Selena Gomez, and Cardi B have used their platforms to raise awareness about Taylor's death.

Numerous celebrities demanded justice for Breonna Taylor on Friday, which would have been the late emergency medical technician's 27th birthday.

On March 13, three Louisville Metro Police Department officers — Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove — entered her apartment in the middle of the night using a "no-knock warrant."

Taylor's boyfriend Kenneth Walker, a licensed gun carrier, believed someone was breaking into their home and fired a gun in self-defense, according to Walker's attorney. The officers then shot Taylor at least eight times.

The officers, who are currently under FBI investigation, have been placed on administrative reassignment, leading to outrage that they haven't been arrested or fired. Protests have broken out, Taylor's family has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit, and the hashtag #SayHerName began trending on Twitter to promote justice for Taylor.

Kanye West offered to pay the legal fees for Taylor's family for their case against the Louisville police, and John Legend penned an opinion essay in Entertainment Weekly calling for government officials to arrest and charge the officers with second-degree murder.

On a day when Taylor would have turned 27, numerous celebrities have used their platforms to honor her life and demand legal action against Mattingly, Hankison, and Cosgrove.

Some celebrities encouraged their followers to take time to honor Taylor

In celebration of the medical worker's birthday, several celebrities have asked their fans to take time to reflect on her life.

Cardi B shared a photo of Taylor and said that "the fight ain't over till you get justice," and Emmy Rossum challenged her fans to "think about" the fact that the then-26-year-old was "killed in her own living room."

—iamcardib (@iamcardib) June 5, 2020

—Emmy Rossum (@emmyrossum) June 5, 2020

Others like Jada Pinkett Smith, Amy Schumer, and Nick Cannon also spoke out in memory of Taylor on her birthday.

—Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapsmith) June 5, 2020

Today is #breonnataylor birthday but she doesn’t get to celebrate it because she was murdered #justiceforbreonnataylor #sayhername #blacklivesmatter

A post shared by @ amyschumer on Jun 5, 2020 at 4:48am PDTJun 5, 2020 at 4:48am PDT

A True Queen. Breonna Taylor was on the frontlines during this COVID-19 pandemic as an EMT and was working towards being a registered nurse when Police broke into her home and shot her 8 times murdering Breonna and 84 days later the officers still haven’t been charged. #HappyBirthday

A post shared by NICK CANNON (@nickcannon) on Jun 5, 2020 at 9:33am PDTJun 5, 2020 at 9:33am PDT

Kehlani shared a Teen Vogue opinion essay featuring the voices of Taylor's family, and Padma Lakshmi told her followers that Taylor was "more than a hashtag."

—Kehlani (@Kehlani) June 5, 2020

—Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) June 5, 2020

Viola Davis wished Taylor a happy birthday, writing, "We have not forgotten you or the countless Black women who were murdered senselessly. Your life mattered."

—Viola Davis (@violadavis) June 5, 2020

Other famous figures provided resources for people to take action

Frustrated with the lack of legal repercussions for the officers, numerous celebrities called on their followers to use their voices.

Ellen DeGeneres and Jonathan Van Ness donated money to Taylor's family on her birthday, encouraging their fans to do the same if they have the resources.

—Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) June 5, 2020

—Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) June 5, 2020

Musicians Lizzo and Ariana Grande tagged government officials in their messages to "make this right."

Today would’ve been #breonnataylor birthday. She should be here. Instead she was murdered by police in what they’re calling a “clerical error”. They barged into her home without knocking and shot her in her sleep. She worked for us during the covid pandemic, she was an innocent civilian. SAY HER NAME. DEMAND JUSTICE ON HER BIRTHDAY. NO ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE. @govandybeshear @senatemajldr @drrandpaul @danieljaycameron MAKE THIS RIGHT. Post by @ju.niyah

A post shared by Lizzo (@lizzobeeating) on Jun 5, 2020 at 8:27am PDTJun 5, 2020 at 8:27am PDT

—Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) June 5, 2020

Karlie Kloss urged fans to add their name to a list of people demanding justice for Taylor, and Selena Gomez circulated a petition to charge the officers, noting that Taylor would be turning "the same age I am."

—Karlie Kloss (@karliekloss) June 5, 2020

—Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) June 5, 2020

Other celebrities like Kim Kardashian West, Megan Thee Stallion, and Regina King linked to resources for their followers to know where to donate and who to call in pursuit of justice for Taylor.

—Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 5, 2020

—HOT GIRL MEG (@theestallion) June 5, 2020

—Regina King (@ReginaKing) June 5, 2020

—Meek Mill (@MeekMill) June 5, 2020

—Ben Affleck (@BenAffleck) June 5, 2020

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