Supporters of Breonna Taylor showed up in large numbers at a political convention in Kentucky and drowned out Daniel Cameron, the attorney general who failed to indict any of the officers involved in the killing of the 26-year-old EMT in 2020. As Cameron tried to rally the crowd at the annual Fancy Farm Picnic, Taylor’s supporters chanted “Breonna Taylor” throughout his speech.
According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, the Fancy Farm Picnic came shortly after the Department of Justice charged four Louisville Metro Police Department officers in connection with Taylor’s death. Cameron continued to face more scrutiny after the DOJ revealed the results of its investigation, which alleged that three of the officers submitted a false affidavit to secure a search warrant for Taylor’s residence.
The attorney general, however, had chosen not to investigate how the warrant was obtained or if it contained misinformation. Cameron said he was unable to examine the warrant because it was outside of the scope of what his office was tasked with doing, the Herald-Leader reports.
Charles Booker, the Democrat who’s challenging sitting U.S. Senator Rand Paul, rallied Taylor’s supporters during the Fancy Farm Picnic. Booker raised his fist as the crowd continued to chant Taylor’s name.
“We’re calling for justice,” Booker said at the rally. “We’re calling for accountability. Anybody that’s running for governor needs to be responsible to the people of Kentucky.”
Speaking to reporters before the event, Cameron said the two officers who shot Taylor, retired Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and ex-detective Myles Cosgrove, did not use excessive force.
“I know folks have very strong feelings about this case … but we have a responsibility to not give into any preferred narrative,” the attorney general said, according to the Herald-Leader. “We have a responsibility to do right by the laws of Kentucky and that’s what we did.”
Many other advocates, including celebrities, have been condemning Cameron since Taylor’s death.
Rihanna responded to a lengthy video message Cameron posted in honor of Black History Month in 2021.
“Sup n***a? #JusticeforBreonnaTaylor,” Rihanna wrote at the time, replying to the video Cameron tweeted.
Sup nigga? #JusticeforBreonnaTaylor https://t.co/tkk3hXf9L2
— Rihanna (@rihanna) February 1, 2021
Megan Thee Stallion also slammed the attorney general during her performance on Saturday Night Live in 2020.
Megan Thee Stallion gave a message to Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron during her #SNL performance pic.twitter.com/hGY9W6rM59
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) October 4, 2020
As Blavity previously reported, Cameron faced more backlash in 2020 when he deflected Taylor’s case, choosing instead to focus on helping a football association get their players back on the field safely amid coronavirus concerns.
Cameron only brought a charge against former detective Brett Hankison, accusing him of endangering Taylor’s neighbors. Hankison, however, was found not guilty in a jury trial.
There were no other officers charged at the state level for Taylor’s death.