NEA President Becky Pringle responds to grand jury report on Breonna Taylor murder case

Washington—National Education Association President Becky Pringle responded today to the grand jury report on the Breonna Taylor murder case which recommends criminal charges against one of the three police officers involved in her murder. 

The following statement can be attributed to NEA President Becky Pringle. 

“The grand jury recommendation to bring charges against only one police officer, out of three involved in the murder of Breonna Taylor, and that the charge is for “wanton endangerment,” is woefully insufficient. The verdict essentially says that Black lives do not matter. 

“At the end of the day, however, whatever our race, background or ZIP code, we all want to know that we can make it home to our families and communities. Too frequently, the people entrusted to serve and protect our communities target, detain — and even kill — Black people like Breonna Taylor. At the same time, a handful of politicians shame and blame the victims of this police brutality to distract us from their failure to ensure the care, security and support every one of us deserves. 

“Breonna Taylor, the young, Black woman, essential worker, bright and full of life, personified the dreams we see in our students. Grieving the murder of Breonna Taylor is not enough. Reliving the trauma caused by her death and now by the grand jury decision is not enough. People of good conscience are demanding that we respect and honor Black lives. We are coming together to demand that liberty and justice be for all and that our elected officials and public servants respect the rights and lives of people who for far too long have been denied that respect. 

“Voting this November is a critical step in ending the institutional racism that supports and promotes policies that sanction police brutality. It’s something we all must do to create safer and more just communities for all.”

In the wake of Breonna Taylor’s killing, and George Floyd’s and Ahmaud Arbery’s, and so many, many more, the National Education Association launched its own Demands for Justice for Black Lives, aimed at demanding justice and equity for Black lives in all places and in all forms, including in our judicial, education, housing, health and economic systems. Read the NEA Demands for Justice for Black Lives.

Find Justice for Black Lives resources for educators and parents curated by the NEA Center for Social Justice here.

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