US1 min(s) read
Published 15:39 28 Dec 2020 GMT
A ceramic sculpture depicting the bust of Breonna Taylor has been smashed in an apparent act of vandalism.
CBS SF BayArea reports, that police in Oakland are investigating the damaged bust, which was installed just two weeks ago in Latham Square near City Hall by artist Leo Carson.
Carson told CBS that it looks like the sculpture was hit across the back with a baseball bat, in an act of vandalism he believes was an attack against the Black Lives Matter movement.
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He continues: "I don't think there's a single person in Oakland who doesn't know who Breonna Taylor is, and I don't think you attack a sculpture like that by accident.
"And I think that it was an act of racism and an act of aggression and intimidation."
Carson has since started a GoFundMe page to raise money in order for the artwork to be restored.
On the page, he writes: "After spending months creating this artwork it was incredible to see the community and neighbors taking photos and enjoying it. Now I am devastated and enraged to see it in pieces. This was an act of racist aggression and we need to show them we will not stand for it.
"Several people have reached out asking about how they can help with the repairs. The best way to prevent further damage would be to rebuild her in bronze. As an unemployed server, this isn't something I can afford to do on my own.
"The bronze casting process will take months to complete and the base will also have to be reconstructed to support the additional weight.
"Any funds over the cost of rebuilding will be donated to Breonna Taylor's family."
As of this writing, $4,605 of the $5,000 target has been raised.
On 13 March, Ms Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician, was at home in bed with her boyfriend Kenneth Walker when officers from Louisville Metro Police Department entered the apartment shortly after midnight.
Per The Independent, Taylor was shot at least five times in a mistaken drugs raid in the city of Louisville.
Prior to the raid, judge had reportedly signed a no-knock" warrant that gave officers permission to enter.
However, the warrant's order was later changed to a "knock and announce" - but Walker has since stated that the officers did not announce themselves - despite the couple asking who was outside the front door after hearing banging.
Walker has stated that he believed Taylor's ex-boyfriend was attempting to break in, causing him to fire a gun at the officers when they broke down the door - striking Officer Mattingly in the leg.
The officers then returned fire, striking Taylor five times.
The Jefferson County coroner reported that Breonna Taylor died within a minute after she was shot.
