Vox Sentences - #BirthdayForBreonna

Mourners mark the birthday of Breonna Taylor, an EMT killed by police; Facebook begins labeling content produced by state-controlled publications. 

Tonight's Sentences was written by Catherine Kim.

• Today would have been the 27th birthday of Breonna Taylor, a black woman EMT who was fatally shot in her own apartment in Louisville, Kentucky, by police in March. [Vox / Anna North] 
• The police had a warrant to enter Taylor's apartment on the night of March 13 as part of a drug sting operation –– even though the suspect lived far from Taylor and had already been detained by the time of the raid on Taylor's home. When the police broke into the apartment, Taylor's boyfriend shot an officer in the leg, thinking they were intruders. Three officers subsequently fired 20 rounds, eight of which hit Taylor, killing her on the spot. [NYT / Richard A. Oppel Jr.] 
• The officers, who weren't wearing body cameras, said they had knocked on the door and identified themselves as police, although they had a "no knock" warrant that allowed them to enter unannounced. Taylor's family and neighbors dispute this account, saying they never knocked or identified themselves. Following the incident, Taylor's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit and the three officers were put on administrative leave. [CBS News / Peter Martinez and Christopher Brito]
• The case finally gained national recognition in May, and her death helped prompt nationwide protests condemning police violence against black Americans. Yet another black man, restaurant owner David McAtee, was fatally shot by the police after a Lousiville protest earlier this week. [Guardian / Josh Wood] 
• Officials have only begun to take action in recent weeks: The Louisville Metropolitan Police Department now requires body cameras; the FBI is opening an investigation into Taylor's killing; and the LMPD will receive a "comprehensive, top-to-bottom review." [CNN / A.J. Willingham]
• But the officers responsible for Taylor's death haven't been charged, and activists want to change that. LA-based writer Cate Young kicked off the #BirthdayForBreonna campaign, which asks people to send birthday cards to Kentucky lawmakers asking for the officers' arrest. [LA Times / Megan Botel] 
• The stories of black women are often left out during discussions about police violence. For many, Taylor's birthday is an opportunity to highlight not just Taylor's wrongful death, but the injustice black women have historically faced as well. [NYT / Alisha Haridasani Gupta] 

• Facebook has begun content from "state-controlled" media outlets in an attempt to address its reputation as a platform for misinformation. [NPR / Shannon Bond]
• The goal is to increase transparency and keep readers informed of the different motivations a publication might have: "The concern for us is state media combines the agenda setting power of a media entity with the strategic backing of a state," said Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook's head of security policy. [CNN / Hadas Gold] 
• Several factors will be considered: ownership, funding, transparency around sources, correction policies, etc. Facebook has already labeled publications like Sputnik and China Daily, from Russia and China, respectively, as state-controlled media. [The Verge / Adi Robertson]
• Facebook will also bar these outlets from purchasing ads in the US starting this summer to try to prevent foreign interference in the 2020 election, something many criticized the company for failing to do four years ago. [CNBC / Salvador Rodriguez] 
• These efforts to check the content of certain outlets come as the company is facing scrutiny for failing to take action against President Trump's posts inciting violence against protesters. The company's lack of action ultimately prompted employees to stage a virtual walkout, and at least three employees have resigned in protest. [Recode / Shirin Ghaffary]
• Facebook's latest state media initiative is likely to do little to quell criticism against the company, especially when Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, is actively denying any responsibility in policing political speech –– even if it may stoke violence. [Politico / Mark Scott] 

[CNN / Anneken Tappe]

• Google reported that the Biden and Trump campaigns were targeted by Iranian and Chinese hackers, resurfacing concerns about foreign interference in the 2020 election. [NBC News / Kevin Collier]
• The use of tear gas to disperse protests crowds is particularly dangerous during the pandemic: More people are exposed to Covid-19 through coughing and sneezing, and the chemicals can harm the body's ability to fight off the virus. [NPR / Will Stone]
• Last month was the hottest May on record, and 2020 is on track to be one of the hottest years in history –– a trend that's alarming climate change scientists. [CNBC / Emma Newburger]
• Civil rights groups are suing the Trump administration over violently evacuating protesters in Lafayette Park on Monday so that the president could take pictures at a historic church. [Guardian / Martin Pengelly] 

What’s a three-letter word for a flat fish you can catch from October to April in "Animal Crossing: New Horizons"? 

Solve today's new Vox crossword puzzle, and stay tuned for more puzzles coming out Monday through Saturday.

[Cate Young, who launched the #BirthdayForBreonna campaign, on Breonna Taylor's death]

Two mothers, one black and one white, talk to their teenage sons about race and police brutality in the United States. [Spotify / Sean Rameswaram]