By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

Support African Elements at patreon.com/africanelements and hear recent news in a single playlist. Additionally, you can gain early access to ad-free video content.

The acquittal of an Ohio police officer in the fatal shooting of Ta'Kiya Young has sparked a renewed fight for justice. Ta'Kiya Young was a pregnant Black woman. Community members in Blendon Township continue to demand federal charges. They also want stronger rules for how police use force (19thnews.org). This ongoing struggle is deeply connected to a long history. It reflects systemic issues of policing and racial injustice in the United States (19thnews.org).

On August 24, 2023, 21-year-old Ta'Kiya Young was tragically killed by Blendon Township police officer Connor Grubb. She was approximately seven months pregnant at the time. The incident occurred in a Kroger parking lot near Columbus, Ohio (19thnews.org). Her unborn daughter also died. Officer Grubb approached Young's vehicle because she was suspected of shoplifting alcohol (19thnews.org). Body camera footage shows Young refusing repeated orders to leave her car. Subsequently, she slowly moved her vehicle forward. Officer Grubb, standing in front of the car with his weapon drawn, fired a single shot through the windshield. The bullet struck and killed Young (19thnews.org). In August 2024, Officer Grubb faced serious charges. He was indicted on murder, involuntary manslaughter, and felonious assault (19thnews.org). An indictment means a grand jury formally accused him of these crimes. This formal accusation led to criminal charges (wikipedia.org). However, on November 21, 2025, a jury found him not guilty on all counts. An acquittal means a defendant is found not guilty of the charges (wikipedia.org). Charges related to her unborn child were dismissed earlier. The judge cited a lack of evidence that Grubb knew Young was pregnant when the shooting happened (19thnews.org). This decision caused anguish. Young's grandmother reportedly collapsed in sobs, exclaiming her disbelief (19thnews.org).

The outcome of this trial prompted strong reactions. Sean Walton, the family's attorney, called it "an American tragedy" (19thnews.org). He pledged to pursue a civil lawsuit against Blendon Township and its police chief (19thnews.org). A civil lawsuit is different from criminal charges. It seeks monetary damages for harm, rather than criminal punishment like imprisonment (wikipedia.org). Even if an officer is acquitted in a criminal case, they can still be held responsible in a civil court (wikipedia.org). This is because the legal standards and goals are distinct (wikipedia.org).

This chart illustrates the disproportionate rate at which Black Americans are killed by police compared to their share of the U.S. population (19thnews.org).

This case also highlighted the controversial use of Marsy's Law. Officer Grubb and his department initially used this law to keep his identity secret (19thnews.org). Marsy's Law is a victims' rights amendment. It aims to protect crime victims with rights such as privacy and protection from the accused (fingerlakesdailynews.com). The officer claimed he was a "victim" in the incident (ohio.edu). However, the Ohio Supreme Court later disagreed. The court ruled that Marsy's Law does not apply to police officers who use deadly force while on duty ((19thnews.org), (ohio.edu)). The law's purpose is to protect crime victims, not individuals who are potentially subjects of a criminal investigation (ohio.edu). Community members and activists have since pushed for federal intervention. They want federal charges against Grubb and much stricter policies on police use of force (19thnews.org). Federal charges are brought by federal prosecutors for violations of federal laws. State charges, on the other hand, are for breaking state laws (house.gov). A state acquittal does not stop federal authorities from bringing charges, especially if civil rights were violated (house.gov). A primary federal law used in such cases is 18 U.S. Code § 242. This law makes it a crime to willfully deprive someone of their constitutional rights while acting as an officer (house.gov).

This visualization highlights that in Ohio, from 2013-2023, a Black person was 4.5 times more likely to be killed by police than a White person (19thnews.org).

The deep pain and ongoing activism after Ta'Kiya Young's death are not isolated events. Instead, they are part of a continuous fight against police brutality and racial injustice (19thnews.org). These issues have harmed Black communities for centuries. Policing in the United States has troubling origins. It can be traced back to 18th-century "Slave Patrols" in the Carolinas (19thnews.org). These patrols had a clear mission. They were to use extreme force to control enslaved people. They also suppressed uprisings (19thnews.org). This early history set the stage for how law enforcement interacts with Black people today. It created a foundation where policing often acts as a tool of racial control (19thnews.org).

Historically, these systemic issues show how racial bias is deeply woven into law enforcement's practices. This bias leads to unfair outcomes for racial minorities (brookings.edu). It is about how the system itself is designed, in addition to individual officers acting badly (brookings.edu). Racial profiling is one example of this systemic issue. Aggressive patrolling in Black neighborhoods is another (brookings.edu). Harsher sentences for similar crimes committed by Black people also demonstrate this bias (brookings.edu). These patterns show that racism is ingrained in the system's operation (brookings.edu).

Black liberation movements have consistently challenged police misconduct throughout history. The modern civil rights movement, for example, fought for basic rights. These movements are broad social efforts by Black people. They seek self-determination, racial dignity, and an end to oppression (britannica.com). Furthermore, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement revitalized national conversations about police accountability. It was founded in 2013 after George Zimmerman's acquittal in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin (19thnews.org). The BLM movement gained significant attention. This happened with widespread protests in 2014 following police killings of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Tamir Rice (19thnews.org). The movement pushes for comprehensive police reform. This includes better training and holding officers accountable (19thnews.org).

While many cases involving Black men receive significant media attention, Black women also face violence. The "Say Her Name" campaign started to highlight these often forgotten stories (19thnews.org). Black women are disproportionately affected by police violence. Cases like Tanisha Anderson, who died during an encounter with Cleveland police in 2014, show the risks Black women face (19thnews.org). Police violence against pregnant Black individuals is especially troubling. There are documented cases of mistreatment. Malaika Brooks, a seven-months pregnant Black woman, was tasered multiple times in 2004 for refusing to sign a traffic ticket (19thnews.org). This illustrates a careless disregard for the well-being of pregnant Black women (19thnews.org). The stress and fear of potential police brutality deeply affect the health of pregnant Black people. This can even lead to adverse outcomes like preterm birth (19thnews.org). This systemic devaluation of Black motherhood continues to appear in current acts of state violence (19thnews.org).

The systemic devaluation of Black motherhood is a powerful concept. It means that societal structures undermine Black mothers' health and autonomy (ucsf.edu). This extends beyond direct police violence. Historically, Black women faced forced reproduction during slavery. Their roles as mothers were denied. Children were often separated from them for economic reasons (ucsf.edu). This painful past created lasting effects.

In today's world, Black mothers experience major differences in maternal health. They have higher rates of preventable deaths and illnesses (nih.gov). This is due to systemic racism within the healthcare system. It includes unconscious bias and inadequate care (nih.gov). Black mothers are also unfairly targeted by the criminal justice system. They are often criminalized for minor offenses. This leads to separation from their children. It also worsens cycles of poverty (aaihs.org). Furthermore, the child welfare system frequently targets Black families. This results in more investigations, child removals, and termination of parental rights (aaihs.org). These actions stem from racial biases and a lack of proper support for Black families (aaihs.org).

The numbers around police violence in the United States show clear racial disparities. Police kill over 1,000 people annually. In 2024, at least 1,270 people died by police hands. This was the highest number in a decade (19thnews.org). Although Black Americans make up about 14 percent of the U.S. population, police kill them at more than twice the rate of White Americans (19thnews.org). Black men are about 2.5 times more likely to be killed by police than white men (19thnews.org). In addition, Black women are about 1.4 times more likely than white women (19thnews.org). A 2015 study found that unarmed Black individuals were 3.49 times more likely to be shot by police than unarmed white individuals (19thnews.org).