Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free
Alicia Keys has said it is “outrageous and completely unacceptable” that the police officers connected with the killing of Breonna Taylor have not been charged for their role in her death.
The singer told GQ Hype that “there is no justice, there is no regard for the life of a black woman who had an incredibly great future.”
On 23 September, Brett Hankison, one of the three officers who fired shots on the night of Taylor’s death, was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment .
A Kentucky grand jury indicted Hankison for shooting into neighbouring apartments, but did not charge any officers for their role in Taylor’s death.
The state of Louisville announced a civil settlement providing Taylor’s family with $12m while promising police reforms, but the decision not to charge any of the three officers for their role in the death of the 26-year-old hospital worker has been met with widespread protests across America.
Keys is the latest celebrity to publicly condemn the grand jury’s decision, after the likes of Rihanna , George Clooney and Viola Davis have called for charges against the officers involved.
She said: “Breonna was essential to the workforce in Louisville and was a bright, shining star, ready to go higher. She deserves to be alive.”
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UKShow all 79 1 /79Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis
PA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A girl wears a face mask during a Black Lives Matter rally in Parliament Square
AP
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People are seen by a mural of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Stevenson Square, Manchester
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Children pose for their family in front of discarded placards fixed on a wall in Piccadilly Gardens after a Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Manchester
Getty Images
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People shout slogans during a Black Lives Matter rally in Parliament Square
AP
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators in Leicester
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator holds up a placard during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator gestures during a Black Lives Matter protest in Manchester
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A mounted police officer raises their baton as police horses ride along Whitehall, past the entrance to Downing Street, in an attempt to disperse protestors gathered in central London
AFP via Getty Images
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff
PA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road, London
PA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters hold up signs as they march along a road during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury
Getty Images
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People climbing on top of the Queen Victoria Statue as they take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Children pose for a photo during a Black Lives Matter protest at Parliament Square
Getty Images
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators hold placards as they attend a protest march to the US Embassy in London
AFP via Getty Images
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters demonstrate near the the US Embassy in Nine Elms in London
Getty Images
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square
PA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester
Reuters
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator is seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators are seen as police officers look on during a Black Lives Matter protest near Downing street in London
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators are seen wth police liaison officers during a Black Lives Matter protest in Luton
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A protest at Parliament Square in London
EPA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator in Leicester
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square
PA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators block traffic outside Victoria Station
AP
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Custom House Square, Belfast
PA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Police on horseback in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
PA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty Images
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators throw flares above a police line during a Black Lives Matter march in London
AP
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People climbing on top of the Queen Victoria Statue as they take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators raise their hands facing police officers after scuffles during a Black Lives Matter march in London
AP
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People are seen placing placards on a fence in London
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator is seen with a protective face mask during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A sign alternatively naming Wilson Street 'Rosa Parks Street' in Glasgow. Activists have put up names of black people and civil rights activists throughout history alongside street names around the Scottish centre as part of the ongoing worldwide demonstrations following the death of George Floyd
PA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Boxer Anthony Joshua is seen with demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators gather outside Downing Street
AP
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators kneel facing police officers after scuffles during a Black Lives Matter march in London
AP
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators lay on the pavement during a Black Lives Matter rally at Trafalgar Square
AP
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A protester stands on bus stop and raises their hand during a Black Lives Matter protest at Parliament Square
Getty Images
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters holding placards gather in Manchester
Getty Images
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A man gestures during a Black Lives Matter march in in London
AP
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Girls hold placards in London
AP
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator in Parliament Square
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator wearing a protective face mask during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A protest placard is affixed to the plinth of a statue of the Duke of Wellington on the second day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Piccadilly Gardens
Getty Images
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Deansgate, Manchester
PA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators stage a Black Lives Matter Protest in Leicester city centre
EPA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator points towards a mounted police officer laying in the road after being unseated from their horse, during a demonstration on Whitehall, near the entrance to Downing Street
AFP via Getty Images
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A 'Black Lives Matter' (BLM) protest at Parliament Square
EPA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
PA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square
PA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protests at Parliament Square in London
EPA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator holds a placard during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters hold placards as they march through central London
Getty Images
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators in Parliament Square
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters kneel as they hold placards during a demonstration in Manchester
AFP via Getty Images
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A mother and son hold up a sign during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury
Getty Images
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A protest march in Manchester
AFP via Getty Images
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
Gemma Fox/The Independent
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators are seen standing on top of a bus stop wearing protective face masks and face coverings as the Black Lives Matter protesters march to the Home Office in London
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest in Manchester are seen by a mural of George Floyd
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
PA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator is seen wearing a protective face mask as the Black Lives Matter protesters march to the Home Office in London
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protest in Parliament Square
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators with a flare are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest near Downing street in London
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff
PA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters hold up signs during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury
Getty
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A protester raises his arm during a second day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Piccadilly Gardens
Getty Images
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff
PA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Placards are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square
REUTERS
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters holding placards gather at the Queen Victoria monument for a second day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Piccadilly Gardens
Getty Images
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Manchester
AFP via Getty Images
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A woman kneels during a Black Lives Matter rally in London
AP
“She deserves to be able to sleep in her bed and wake up the next morning and continue on with her life, and she deserves for the people who ended her life to be held accountable,” the R&B star added.
The "Fallin’" singer campaigned for justice for Taylor long before the grand jury hearing this month. She collaborated with rapper Rapsody and Taylor’s mother to create the “Do You Know What Happened To Breonna Taylor?” video campaign, which aimed to educate those who had not heard about the case and called for the officers to be charged.
In the GQ interview, Keys said: “Any justice system with laws that allow an innocent woman to be shot six times and be killed by police and no one is held accountable, is an unjust system.”
“This is why we continue to speak out. This is why we have to continually say Black Lives Matter and speak Breonna Taylor’s name so what was done will never be forgotten,” she added.
One of the tracks on the singer’s recently released album, Alicia , was written as a tribute to Michael Brown, Sandra bland and other victims of police brutality and harassment.
The grand jury decision has sparked widespread protests across America (Getty) The song "Perfect Way To Die” is told from the perspective of a mother whose son has been killed.
The singer has also recently announced plans to build a $1bn fund for black-owned businesses, which the NFL has pledged to help support.
Daniel Cameron, the attorney general who presented the case to the grand jury in Kentucky, recently urged people to keep protests peaceful.
“There will be celebrities, influencers and activists who having never lived in Kentucky will try to tell us how to feel, suggesting they understand the facts of this case, that they know our community and the Commonwealth better than we do, but they don’t,” he said, adding “let’s not give in to their attempts to influence our thinking or capture our emotions.”
But Keys believes the Black Lives Matter movement has highlighted a “sickness” in the US.
She said: “There's a sickness, a deeply rooted sickness and disregard for black lives, especially in positions that could terminate one's life.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies