In a video statement posted on Twitter Wednesday, Ohio State University President Kristina Johnson ignited controversy with a statement about Breonna Taylor.
In the 45 second clip Johnson said:
“Breonna Taylor deserves justice, and this does not feel like justice. We cannot accept what has happened in Louisville, we grieve the tragic and senseless loss of Breonna Taylor, a daughter, a friend, a niece, a loved one, who was unarmed and asleep. The breakdown in the justice system and the killings of unarmed Black and Brown people in our country has become all too familiar, tragically. This isn’t going to stop until we create an anti-racist world. We must come together to draw strength from each other and advance our collective vision for a better world where we’ll one day have justice for all. There is much work to be done.”
This isn’t going to stop until we create an anti-racist world. pic.twitter.com/TkRSyW60he
— Kristina M. Johnson (@PresKMJohnson) September 23, 2020
Johnson’s statement comes after a Kentucky grand jury’s decision to not press charges against two of three police officers involved in the March 13 shootout that resulted in Taylor’s death. The decision quickly lead to protests and rioting, and two police officers being shot.
The video was a follow up to a text Johnson is reported to have sent out to OSU students sometime after the initial release of the grand jury’s decision.
According to The Gateway Pundit, Johnson sent this text message to students after the grand jury’s decision.
“Dear Buckeye Nation, Breonna Taylor deserves justice, and this does not feel like justice. We cannot accept what has happened in Louisville. We grieve the tragic and senseless loss of Breonna Taylor – a daughter, a friend, a niece, a loved one who was unarmed and asleep.”
While Johnson did receive support on Twitter, the overwhelming majority of respondents were unhappy with Johnson’s statement going so far as to call for her resignation and others saying that they would not be sending their children to OSU as a result.
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Ben Kolodny is a reporter for The Ohio Star and the Star News Network. You can follow Ben on Twitter. Tips can be sent to [email protected].
Photo “Kristina Johnson” by Kristina Johnson.
