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A protest in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday night to mark the first anniversary of Breonna Taylor’s death was declared an illegal gathering, police said.
Some protesters, “while armed,” blocked vehicle traffic and forced motorists to turn around, the Louisville Metro Police Department wrote in a Twitter message.
“Arrests will be made to those who refuse to disperse,” the police message said.
The tweet included a photo of protesters gathered along the Ohio River waterfront in the city.
No arrests had been made as of 11 p.m., police spokesman Dwight Mitchell told Louisville FOX WDRB-TV station. He added that the police did not need to use tear gas or any other chemical agent 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 FOX station.
Earlier in the evening, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer thanked the crowd for being peaceful during the weekend’s protests.
Protesters in Louisville, Ky., Call for justice for Breonna Taylor, September 25, 2020 (Associated Press)
“Breonna’s death devastated her family, friends and colleagues, and it deeply shaken our community and our country,” the mayor said, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal. “His death, along with that of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and many others, serve as painful reminders to black Americans of the injustice, discrimination and violence they have faced for centuries – and that they do. still too often faced today. “
President Biden also posted a message on Twitter, acknowledging the anniversary of Taylor’s death.
“The death of Breonna Taylor was a tragedy, a blow to her family, her community and America,” Biden wrote. “As 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.”
Rallies were held in Louisville and other cities across the United States as protesters pressured authorities to prosecute police involved in a raid on Taylor’s home on March 13, 2020, which resulted in the gunshot death of the 26-year-old woman.
“Until a jury trial tells us these officers are not guilty, there is still time to indict, arrest and convict the cops who murdered Breonna Taylor,” lawyer Lonita Baker, one of the lawyers involved in a wrongful death lawsuit brought by Taylor’s family, said at an afternoon rally in Jefferson Square Park, according to WDRB.
This undated photo shows Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. (Courtesy of Taylor Family Lawyer Sam Aguiar via AP)
During the raid, Taylor was hit by six shots and died in her hallway as police clashed with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who later told authorities he shot the police, believing the agents were intruders trying to break into the house.
Walker has since been cleared of his wrongdoing and three police officers linked to the raid have been fired, but none have faced criminal charges, the WDRB reported.
Walker filed a federal complaint against the Louisville Metro Police Department on Friday, ABC News reported.
Four days earlier, Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, had filed a complaint 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 Lieutenant Shawn Hoover.
Former det. Brett Hankison was charged with gratuitous endangerment last September for shooting in an apartment next to Taylor and showing “extreme indifference to human life.”
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A man, a pregnant woman and a child were in the other apartment at the time, authorities said.
In September, Taylor’s family reached a $ 12 million settlement with the city in a separate court case. The terms included the city’s commitment to make changes to police policies and procedures.
Louisville Police told Fox News the case is still under investigation and takes Palmer’s continuing concerns seriously.
“The department places the highest priority on the conduct of 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 these limitations set by Commonwealth law.”
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