A protest in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday night, on the first anniversary of Breonna Taylor’s death, was declared an illegal gathering, according to police.
Some protesters, “while armed,” blocked vehicular traffic and forced motorists to turn around, the Louisville Metro Police Department wrote in a Twitter message.
“Arrests will be made for those who refuse to disperse,” the police message read.
The tweet included a photo of protesters gathered along the city’s Ohio River shoreline.
No arrests had been made as of 11 p.m., police spokesman Dwight Mitchell told the Louisville FOX station WDRB-TV. He added that the police had not needed to use tear gas or any other chemical agents on the crowd.
BREONNA TAYLOR’S MOTHER FILES COMPLAINTS AGAINST 6 LOUISVILLE POLICE OFFICERS
A woman who was seen handcuffed by police was later released, according to the FOX station.
Earlier in the evening, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer had thanked the crowd for being at peace during the weekend rallies.
Protesters in Louisville, Kentucky, call for justice for Breonna Taylor, September 25, 2020 (Associated Press).
“Breonna’s death devastated her family, friends and co-workers, and has deeply shaken our community and our country,” the mayor said, according to the Courier-Journal of Louisville. “His deaths, along with that of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and many others, serve as painful reminders to African Americans of the injustice, discrimination, and violence they have faced for centuries, and all too often still face today.”
President Biden also posted a Twitter message, acknowledging the anniversary of Taylor’s death.
“The death of Breonna Taylor was a tragedy, a blow to her family, her community and the United States,” Biden wrote. “While we continue to mourn her, we must move forward to pass meaningful police reform in Congress. I remain committed to signing a landmark reform bill.
Meetings were held in Louisville and other US cities as protesters lobbied for authorities to prosecute police officers who participated in a raid on Taylor’s home on March 13, 2020, which resulted in the shooting death of the 26-year-old woman.
“Until a jury trial tells us these officers are not guilty, there is always time to charge, arrest and convict the officers who murdered Breonna Taylor,” said attorney Lonita Baker, one of the attorneys involved in a lawsuit for Wrongful death filed by Taylor’s family. he said at an evening rally in Jefferson Square Park, according to WDRB.
This undated photo shows Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. (Courtesy of Taylor Family attorney Sam Aguiar, via AP)
During the raid, Taylor was shot six times and died in the hallway when police confronted her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who later told authorities that he fired at the police, thinking the officers were intruders trying to break into the home. .
Since then, Walker has been cleared of wrongdoing and three police officers linked to the raid have been fired, but none have faced criminal charges, WDRB reported.
Walker filed a federal lawsuit against the Louisville Metro Police Department on Friday, ABC News reported.
Four days earlier, Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, filed complaints against six police officers in connection with her daughter’s death, alleging police misconduct.
The complaint names Sgt. Kyle Meany, Det. Anthony James, Det. Mike Nobles, Sgt. Amanda Seelye, Det. Mike Campbell and Lt. Shawn Hoover.
Ex Det. Brett Hankison was charged with senseless endangerment last September for shooting an apartment next to Taylor’s and displaying “extreme disregard for human life.”
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A man, a pregnant woman and a child were inside the other apartment at the time, authorities said.
In September, Taylor’s family reached a $ 12 million settlement with the city in a separate legal case. The terms included the city’s commitment to make changes to police policies and procedures.
Louisville police have told Fox News that the case remains under investigation and they are taking Palmer’s current concerns seriously.
“The department places the highest priority on conducting thorough and impartial investigations, and the complaints received from Ms. Palmer’s attorney are no exception,” LMPD told Fox News in a statement. “We are committed to being as transparent as possible within the limits of Commonwealth law limitations.”
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