Saturday marked one year since the death of Breonna Taylor, the Louisville, Ky., EMS worker who was killed by police officers while sleeping in her bed. Since that day, her name has become a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement.

In Kingston, activists have spent every Wednesday campaigning for justice and advocating for changes to how policing is done here. During this rally, speakers focused on using mental health professionals to respond to mental health crisis calls instead of police.

According to a study by the Treatment Advocacy Center, people with mental illness are 16 times more likely to die during encounters with the police.


What You Need To Know

  • One year after her death, Kingston rallied in memory of Breonna Taylor

  • Activists who spoke talked about changing policing, including using mental health professionals to respond to mental health crisis calls

  • According to a study by the Treatment Advocacy Center, people with mental illness are 16 times more likely to die during encounters with the police

"And we shouldn’t have people who need care continue to be met with state violence," said Callie Jayne, the executive director of Rise Up Kingston. "And our mayor keeps saying that he’s going to treat racism and police brutality as an emergency. Well, put your money where your mouth is, Steve; move the money."

The rally was followed by a march, with that message brought directly to the Kingston community. Along the way, many stopped to listen or even left their homes to join.

"The community feels an attachment to Breonna because we feel like she’s our sister, and her life was extinguished," said Anne Ames, the rally's co-host. "And there was no justice done."

Ames' message is consistent with the other speakers here, that decades of police reform has not changed enough and that new ideas for policing are needed.

"It’s been over 50 years now with the same story: You set up a commission, 'this is what we’re gonna do,' you give a couple people positions, and then they think everything’s done. The policing needs to change, not reform," Ames said.