How can we as a nation pride ourselves on our patriotic spirit and diversity while withholding justice and turning a blind eye to systemic racism? How can we hang our star striped banners while innocent people are murdered in their own homes?

The fact of the matter is that America is not the “land of the free.” It is the land of the privileged, or lack thereof.

On Friday, Mar. 13, Breonna Taylor, a Black medical technician, was laying in her bed when Louisville police officers entered her apartment. Taylor’s boyfriend Kenneth Walker said the police did not execute their “knock and announce” search warrant; they did not knock or identify themselves. Instead the police knocked the door down.

Walker armed himself, fearing someone had broken in. He shot an officer in the leg once. The Louisville police officers responded with twenty rounds of fire, shooting Taylor five times. She was dead on the scene.

The police were at the apartment searching for evidence of two men who were selling drugs. But the two men lived more than ten miles away. And, at the time police arrived at Taylor’s, the officers did not know that one of the main suspects was already detained.

Officers Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove are responsible for more than what they call a “botched” search warrant.

On Tue., Sept. 15, Taylor’s family won a lawsuit for $12 million after a court battle for a “wrongful death.” Taylor’s family was paid, because the court acknowledged her death was unjust.

And yet, still no one is charged for Taylor’s murder.

On Wed. Sept. 23, a state jury indicted Hankison for three counts of wanton endangerment. Wanton endangerment means he was careless with his fire, as he shot bullets into the neighboring apartment. He is being charged for damage to a wall, not for murdering Breonna Taylor.

Why? It’s a simple, painful truth that many (privileged) people try to avoid confronting. We live in a society built on the oppression of minorities, where systemic racism is ingrained in our culture. But shying away from that fact won’t change America’s bloody past, nor will it help things in the future.

Change has to start with us focusing on how to change our legal system now. Our current laws need to hold people of power accountable for their actions.

Look at our country. Really, truly look at it. See Breonna Taylor, age 26. See George Floyd, age 46. See Tamir Rice, age 12. See every victim of racism.  See every moment of injustice that is brushed under the rug. See why protesters raise a fist in the air for justice.

After the announcement of no one being charged with Taylor’s murder, protests broke out in Louisville. As of Tue., Sept. 29, people continue to plea for justice. They plea for the justice that was not given to a Black woman killed in her own home. They plea for the justice that was not given to Taylor’s grieving mother Tamika Palmer. They plea for the justice still denied six months later, as the men who killed Taylor still face no charges for her murder.

How can you help bring justice for Breonna Taylor?

• To help Taylor’s family: The Taylor Family GoFundMe
• To help protesters on the streets: Louisville Community Bail Fund
• To stay updated on Taylor’s case: CNN Live Updates