On Monday, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam officially signed “Breonna’s Law,” which will now ban no-knock search warrants in the state of Virginia. Now making it the third state to sign the bill into law.
According to NBC 12, Governor Northam said, “These are not anti-police measures. These are pro-people laws. They’re about making our justice system fair and more equitable and they’re about rebuilding trust between our law enforcement and the communities they serve.”
As many of you know, the bill was passed earlier this year after Breonna Taylor was unfortunately shot and killed in her Louisville, KY apartment by officers that were fulfilling a no-knock search.
Virginia’s Chief Diversity Officer, Dr. Janice Underwood, also added, “The Commonwealth of Virginia. Only the third state in the nation has taken a bold stand against no-knock warrants, an institutional mechanism that disproportionately terrorizes people of color. Virginia is getting it right.”
Breonna Taylor’s aunt, Bianca Austin, was also present during the signing. “Thank you for taking that power and just using it in the right light and being on the right side of this fight for justice for Breonna Taylor,” she said.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed "Breonna's Law" on Monday, banning no-knock warrants in the commonwealth.
Virginia is only the third state to adopt a law banning no-knock warrants and the first since Breonna Taylor was fatally shot in her home by police earlier this year. pic.twitter.com/hU3ffVjlcA
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) December 7, 2020
Under the new law, search warrants can only be served during daytime hours unless officers can show a judge or magistrate a reason to serve a warrant at night.
As many of you know, the officers responsible for Breonna Taylor’s death unfortunately did not face any consequences for killing her. Brett Hankison, one of the three officers involved in the shooting, was indicted on three counts of wanton endangerment, for the bullets that went inside of the apartment next to Breonna’s.
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TSR STAFF: Jade Ashley @Jade_Ashley94
