Kyrie Irving to produce TV special calling for justice in Breonna Taylor case
“#SAYHERNAME: BREONNA TAYLOR” is set to air July 8 at 7 pm ET on PlayersTV digital.
Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving is joining a list of other celebrities for a television special seeking justice for the shooting death of Breonna Taylor. Irving is producing the program, which is titled “#SAYHERNAME: BREONNA TAYLOR.” According to ESPN, the show will debut on July 8 at 7 pm ET on the PlayersTV digital and broadcast network. Common, Jemele Hill, Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza, Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley and more are set to make appearances.
The show will highlight specific calls of action that people can take to demand justice, such as registering to vote, calling city and state officials and encouraging people to post on social media. Irving says that calling attention to systemic racism and police brutality “is critical to magnify how these unjust behaviors and practices are directly impacting Black women.”
Taylor was a 26-year-old emergency medical technician who was shot and killed by Louisville police officers who entered her home under a “no-knock” warrant. She was shot eight times by the plainclothes officers who were serving a narcotics warrant. None of the officers involved in the shooting have been arrested or charged for her death.
Since the March 13 shooting, protests have erupted across the nation as people demand justice for Taylor and many other Black people who were killed by police. Brett Hankison, the officer who was involved in the shooting, has been fired from the department.
Oklahoma Thunder star Chris Paul is also set to produce a docuseries on the struggles that historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) face when recruiting high schools students for sports.
“HBCUs historically have been at a competitive disadvantage with their basketball programs facing many challenges with funding, recruitment, misperceptions and exposure,” Paul said in a statement. “With the current racial awakening in our country prompting young athletes to look at where they play, it’s now more important than ever to shine a light on HBCUs and showcase their value in sports and society.”