DOJ Clears Breonna Taylor Officers. No Kings Protest. Black Infertility in the South |#TheBreakDown

The US Department of Justice moved to dismiss remaining federal charges against two former Louisville officers, Joshua James and Kelly Meanie, accused of falsifying the warrant that led to Breonna Taylor's fatal shooting. This decision followed previous court actions reducing felony charges to misdemeanors and difficulties in securing a conviction. Former detective Brett Henson was convicted of violating Taylor's civil rights and sentenced to 33 months, and the city settled with Taylor's family for $12 million.

Federal prosecutors sought to dismiss charges against Joshua James and Kelly Meanie for falsifying the warrant. The DOJ's decision is based on difficulties in securing a conviction after felony charges were twice struck down. Brett Henson was convicted and sentenced to 33 months; the city settled for $12 million.

Lea Wilson (Kiki) was awarded $15.4 million by a jury after proving she endured years of racial discrimination and abusive language from her supervisor, who faced no consequences. Her coworker, Charles Smith, corroborated her claims. Despite the city denying allegations after an internal investigation, the jury found the city liable in one day. Wilson highlighted the 'huge price' she paid as the only Black woman in her workplace, emphasizing that the monetary award doesn't compensate for lost time with family.

Lea Wilson accused her supervisor of repeatedly using racist and abusive language. Coworker Charles Smith supported her claims. The jury reached a decision in one day, awarding Wilson $15.4 million and Smith $400,000. Wilson stated, 'nobody looked at the huge price I paid to be at the city and work as a black woman.'

Two Black female executives, Vicky Guster Hines and Dominica Neil, filed a lawsuit against McDonald's in 2020, alleging racial discrimination and claiming they were pushed out after speaking up. A judge ruled the case can proceed to trial in September. Allegations include comments from CEO Chris Kempczinski in a 2019 meeting stating the company wasn't committed to racial diversity and that most Black executives deserved lower-ranking jobs, and supervisors depicting plaintiffs as 'angry black women.' This follows other discrimination lawsuits against McDonald's, including one settled with Byron Allen and another from former Black franchisees.

Vicky Guster Hines and Dominica Neil filed a lawsuit in 2020. A judge ruled the racial discrimination case can move forward. Allegations include CEO Chris Kempczinski's comments about racial diversity and Black executives, and plaintiffs being called 'angry black women.' McDonald's previously settled with Byron Allen and faced lawsuits from over 40 former franchisees.

Medaria Arradondo, Minneapolis's first Black police chief, recounted learning of George Floyd's death from a community activist, not his department. He immediately initiated parallel state and federal civil rights investigations and convened 32 Black community leaders for guidance. Arradondo made the historic decision to testify against Derek Chauvin, stating it was essential to uphold his values, look his community and family in the face, and maintain credibility with officers he expected to be honest and professional. He stressed that police culture must change to genuinely see community members as partners and acknowledge race's inextricable link to American policing.

Arradondo learned of Floyd's death from community activist Miss Nikima. He called the FBI's special agent in charge at 1 AM to request a civil rights investigation. He met with 32 Black leaders at 8 AM. He testified against Derek Chauvin, stating, 'you speak up, you do the right thing, you tell the truth even if it means you have to stand alone.' He emphasized changing police culture to see community members as 'necessary to our own existence as peace officers' and recognizing 'how much race has inextricably been linked to the American policing system.'

Dr. Tony Nettles Thompson's research, 'Bearing the Cross,' reveals that infertility for religious and spiritual Black women in the South is a deeply personal and often silent struggle. Women experience profound impacts on self-esteem, feeling 'less than a woman,' and suffer in silence to avoid 'other people's shame.' The church, often a source of solace, can become a place of hurt, judgment, and harmful theology, with women feeling blamed or that trusting science is 'turning their backs on God.' Medical professionals frequently dismiss Black women's concerns, attributing infertility to age or weight, leading to delays in diagnosis and lower rates of successful pregnancies compared to white counterparts.

Dr. Thompson's research, 'Bearing the Cross,' explores the intersection of faith, race, and infertility among Black women in the South. Participants described feeling 'hopeless, helpless, worthless, less than a woman.' Infertility is 'very common' and 'taboo,' leading to suffering in silence to avoid 'other people's shame.' The church often caused 'more hurt,' 'harmful theology,' and 'cultural religious judgment,' with women feeling 'blamed' or that trusting science was 'turning their backs on God.' Black women are 'more likely to experience infertility but less likely to seek treatment' due to dismissal by medical professionals, with doctors often saying 'just lose weight and you'll get pregnant.'