Ta’Kiya Young was 21 years old and seven months pregnant when police in Ohio took her life after she shoplifted at a grocery store. She’d never hit, struck, or took any violent action towards the officer before he discharged his weapon.
The Incident
In August of this year, police responded to a grocery store after Ta’Kiya and two other women took items and left. When police approached Ta’Kiya’s car, they asked her to get out of her vehicle. Without any reason to do so, one of the officers stood in front of her car, pulled his weapon, and pointed it at her. Ta’Kiya then slowly turned her vehicle and tried to drive in the opposite direction of the officer. Ta’Kiya never hit him or even came close to hitting him with her car, yet he fired at her through her windshield.
The police said the officer feared for his life. But the truth is that Ta’Kiya’s car was barely moving when the officer fired at her. He struck her in her torso. Both Ta’Kiya and her baby died. This was a clear case of excessive force. There was no reason for the officer to take Ta’Kiya’s life. She was not wanted for a dangerous felony. She hadn’t hurt anyone, nor was she violent with the police. And the police had her license plate number, so they could’ve tracked her had she gotten away.
Police Abuse Against Pregnant Black Women
Her death highlights something that is not often talked about: police abuse against pregnant Black women. The stories of Black women matter. Black women suffer just as much as Black men when it comes to police abuse. For every George Floyd, who died after having an officer kneel on his neck, there is a Kwamesha Sharp, a pregnant Black woman who lost her baby after a police officer in Harvey, IL, kneeled on her stomach, even though he knew she was pregnant.
Other Tragic Stories
- Tiffany Rent: A Black woman who was 8 months pregnant when she was tased by the Chicago police in 2012 after she tore up a ticket in front of an officer.
- Nicola Robinson: 8 months pregnant when she was punched in the stomach by the police for laughing at an officer who couldn’t catch a suspect.
- Malika Brooks: A 33-year-old Black woman who was 7 months pregnant when she was beaten and tased in front of her 11-year-old son after she refused to sign a ticket.
- Kwamesha Sharp: Lost her baby in 2011 when the police in Harvey, Illinois, kneeled on her stomach.
A Systematic Issue
These are not isolated incidents. They reflect a broader, systemic issue of police brutality and misconduct against Black women. Their stories are often overshadowed or erased in the narrative of police violence. But they matter. Black women matter. Black mothers matter. What happened to them matters.
A Call for Justice and Acknowledgment
When we talk about police brutality and misconduct against Black people, we must include the stories of Black women who suffer alongside Black men. Their experiences are equally valid and deserve to be recognized. The justice system must be held accountable for the atrocities committed against Black women. Ta’Kiya Young’s death, along with the many others, should serve as a catalyst for change, urging us to acknowledge and address the abuse faced by Black women at the hands of the police.
By sharing these stories, we honor the memory of those who have suffered and call for a justice system that truly protects and serves all citizens. The abuse of Black women by the police must end, and their stories must be told and remembered.
