Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart used his media session on Tuesday to seek justice for Breonna Taylor.
Smart repeated the phrase “Justice for Breonna Taylor” seven times during an 81-second media session after the Orlando bubble. Taylor, an EMT from Louisville, was shot to death after police raided his home with a direct warrant in March.
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Here is the complete transcript of the Smart session:
Clever: before starting, guys, my answer will be justice for Breonna Taylor. This will be my answer for everything. So just let this guys know now. Justice for Breonna Taylor
Q: Hey Marcus. So if I ask you about the team’s defense, will this be your answer?
Clever: I will ask for justice for Breonna Taylor.
Q: Marcus, CJ McCollum said that some players were phoning with Breonna’s mother a few days ago, were you on that call?
Smart: I was. And I’d just like to say justice for Breonna Taylor.
D: Whatever specifies that you guys were …
Clever: justice for Breonna Taylor. This is my answer for everything … My answer will be justice for Breonna Taylor. This is my answer for every question. Guys, you can keep asking, but that’s what you get today.
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On Sunday, Celtics teammate Jaylen Brown ended his media session also talking about Taylor’s death.
“Before I actually went, I wanted to talk about Breonna Taylor. I know it’s a hot topic in a conversation, I know many people have intervened and have their thoughts on it. I guess where the line is drawn or where the outrage from which it comes is right, look at the case, look since things have been fixed, Louisville has abolished the mandate not to knock, where now you have to knock if you have a warrant, instead of entering someone’s house. And by chance it was the house wrong with Breonna Taylor.
“I understand that the protocol and the officers that have to follow, but I think that many people’s problems are not just officers, but the establishment or superiors, or I can’t think of the right word now. But the problem is not only with the officers, that’s what they were asked to do, etc. So obviously everyone reacted to hear what they have to say. For someone who broke into their home and didn’t necessarily be the right home needed, we understand what is the protocol, but I feel that the protocol must change, it must improve. We see the improvements in progress but also how to keep people talking about these things, continuing to make them talk about them is important: for us equality is required, and Blacks Lives Matter, and Breonna Taylor is an example of black life that was taken because of how the system was structured. keep protesting and keep trying some way to do it. It’s a shame, but c redo that these conversations must continue, certainly. “
