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| The Painting of Breonna Taylor was done by Linnea Tobias, a Spokane artist. It is used with the permission of the artist. |
Eight bullets riddled her young body
in the dead hours of a Louisville night
she didn't have to die that way
When demanding police reform
remember to say her name
she didn't need to die that way
Police refuse to release their files
yet from all we know to date it's clear
she didn't need to die that way
Search revealed no suspected drugs
men police sought were already in jail
she didn't need to die that way
Another mother is left to ask why
a young EMT was killed in a spray of bullets
she didn't need to die that way
Charged boyfriend with shooting at police
thinking they were home invaders
she didn't need to die that way
Now three officers under investigation
charges against boyfriend dropped, police chief fired
she didn't need to die that way
Add Breonna's name to the list we chant
at endless rallies demanding change
she didn't need to die that way
Peter Witt is a retired University Professor and 2020 Poet Laureate for the International Poetics Foundation.