On Oct. 7, a group of students held a sit-out on the quad in solidarity with Breonna Taylor, acknowledging her and the other lives lost as a result of police brutality.

Breonna Taylor was fatally shot by police officers in her home on March 13 of this year. Police officers forcibly entered Taylor’s home while investigating drug charges, but had the wrong address. Taylor’s boyfriend fired a warning shot, fearing that the officers were intruders. The officers then fired a round of bullets. Taylor was hit six times and died shortly after. The sit-out was in response to the recent acquittal of Brett Hankinson, the police officer who shot Taylor. 

Lasting 20 minutes in total, the sit-out was completely silent. Students sat, socially distanced, on marked spaces around the perimeter of the Quad. Many also held signs in support of Taylor.

“There was a great community turnout which really showed that a lot of people care. I think it did a great job of bringing awareness to important issues outside of the community,” said Faris Miller ’24, who was in attendance at the sit-out. 

Nancy Body, head librarian, also participated in the sit-out. “It was incredibly peaceful. And there was this sense of unity that was there that I think was evident.” Body said that she was motivated to participate for a multitude of reasons, but one was Wes Moore, who came to speak at Hill the night before. During his speech, Moore asked the Hill community what they stand for, and Body said that the question particularly resonated with her.

Breonna Taylor, David McAtee, George Perry Floyd, Dreasjon “Sean” Reed and Michael Brent Charles Ramos are just a few of the people who were affected by police violence this summer. The sit out served as a way to bring light to the issues of racism and police brutality that has plagued the country, drawing the Hill community’s attention to it.