The announcement that no charges were brought against officers for the death of Breonna Taylor has led to a BLM protest march through the city. There have been some scuffles with police and about an hour ago (as I write this) police declared an unlawful assembly and ordered everyone to clear the area. There are several reporters on the ground. Let’s start with Townhall’s Julio Rosas:
On the ground in Louisville, Ky. for @townhallcom and the protesting crowd just heard the charges the grand jury announced for the Breonna Taylor case. They are not happy at all, some people are crying. pic.twitter.com/DwGcYKyha4
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) September 23, 2020
As the BLM crowd chanted, “If we didn’t get it, burn it down!” they have marched outside the barricaded zone in Louisville and have shut down traffic in an intersection. pic.twitter.com/cIUtveA7xV
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) September 23, 2020
Fairly quickly the police arrived:
Police have arrived. pic.twitter.com/R396AfAATP
— John Eligon (@jeligon) September 23, 2020
The protesters had a supply truck:
Tense scene as the BLM crowd marched though the streets while passing by Louisville police cars and officers. pic.twitter.com/tPyvxsJsKt
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) September 23, 2020
Lots of shields in that truck:
Unloading the riot shields from the Uhaul #Louisville #BreonnaTaylor pic.twitter.com/F9KqzRB5lM
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 23, 2020
The Krassenstein brothers are already labeling this a false flag:
Does anyone else think that the Trump campaign or Republicans could be behind this Uhaul van handing out shields and "abolish the police" signs in Louisville? It would just be so easy for Trump and the GOP to sell their stupid narrative, wouldn't it? pic.twitter.com/vn8Aj8lCpF
— Mrs. Krassenstein (@HKrassenstein) September 23, 2020
Of course there’s video of the marchers with these same signs but those idiots don’t care:
Protesters have organized a full front line now as they move through the streets #Louisville #BreonnaTaylor pic.twitter.com/WHmiwVM2DU
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 23, 2020
Rosas caught this death threat followed by scuffles with police and arrests:
The BLM crowd was marching in the street until they were stopped by Louisville police in riot gear. The police moved in and rioters started to fight with the police and arrests have been made. pic.twitter.com/Y9lAV76SJP
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) September 23, 2020
Another view of the standoff with police:
First standoff between police and protesters. pic.twitter.com/zkz6Xydg8Q
— John Eligon (@jeligon) September 23, 2020
Some initial vandalism:
Protesters storm a restaurant and begin throwing tables and chairs on the outdoor patio #Louisville #LouisvilleProtest #BreonnaTaylor pic.twitter.com/yYukW8b3FG
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 23, 2020
An unlawful assembly was declared:
Cops declare an unlawful assembly downtown and telling protesters to leave. Protesters fairly thin in numbers but lots of police. Two armored vehicles and lots of batons. pic.twitter.com/jICtZwIhO0
— John Eligon (@jeligon) September 23, 2020
Another speaker announcement from the LMPD declaring the demonstration an unlawful assembly #Louisville #LouisvilleProtest #BreonnaTaylor pic.twitter.com/ev19d2i2EJ
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 23, 2020
There’s also a caravan of BLM supporters in cars:
Massive Black Lives Matter caravan making its way down Market Street in downtown Louisville #Louisville #LouisvilleProtest #BreonnaTaylor #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/kY3hAe0feU
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 23, 2020
Some people shouting at police trying to provoke a reaction from them or the crowd:
Confrontations between protesters and police downtown #Louisville #LouisvilleProtest #BreonnaTaylor pic.twitter.com/2873g9DuEq
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 23, 2020
Riding on the LMPD cruisers as they move through downtown Louisville #Louisville #LouisvilleProtest #BreonnaTaylor #LMPD pic.twitter.com/wGFJ0bRNtk
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 23, 2020
Arrests are being made:
Arrests being made after the unlawful assembly declaration, as police try to clear the crowd of protesters #Louisville #LouisvilleProtest #BreonnaTaylor pic.twitter.com/XNIxLKCO74
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 23, 2020
Some people are already turning on local businesses:
Hearing reports the windows survived despite protesters banging on them with their bats and wooden beams. The scene got too chaotic there along Bardstown to fully assess, will find out more if I can.
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 23, 2020
Bottles are being thrown:
Someone threw a glass bottle towards the police, hit one of the protesters instead #Louisville #LouisvilleProtests #BreonnaTaylor pic.twitter.com/uH0GhCXXRI
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 23, 2020
It’s not even dark yet. Things always get worse once it’s dark.
I’ll update this post as the night goes on. I’m not hopeful this is going to remain peaceful or even “mostly peaceful.”
Update: Two police officers were shot in downtown Louisville:
At least two Louisville Metro Police officers were shot in downtown Louisville Wednesday night, just eight hours after an indictment was returned in the Breonna Taylor case.
A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed the number of officers to The Courier Journal.
I can’t verify this yet this is a clip that I see circulating that may depict the moment the shooting took place.
https://twitter.com/KittyLists/status/1308928098709262339
In addition to the shooting there is the usual assortment of fires and broken windows:
Police came out of the Hall of Justice in Louisville to put out the fires that had been started and were attacked with projectiles by rioters. The police fell back inside the building. An unlawful assembly has been declared. pic.twitter.com/EVEbqje7gr
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) September 23, 2020
Some people in the crowd are breaking uncovered windows as they walk down the street in Louisville. pic.twitter.com/hJfwqBwB7t
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) September 24, 2020
Fires lit at Jefferson Square Park tonight #Louisville #LouisvilleProtests #BreonnaTaylor pic.twitter.com/4mWJYnvxQ0
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 24, 2020
Bus stop smashed out #Louisville #LouisvilleProtests #BreonnaTaylor pic.twitter.com/iecdb7138R
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 24, 2020
Louisville: A group of rioters attempted to hide from police in the grass near a highway underpass
They were quickly found out pic.twitter.com/BxcOBMy8BQ
— Drew Hernandez (@DrewHLive) September 24, 2020
There is supposed to be a briefing on the shooting coming up. I’ll update this once it’s available.
Here’s how this is getting covered. Infuriating:
If “gunshots rang out,” it wasn’t peaceful. https://t.co/3XrA4bXAaY
— Varad Mehta (@varadmehta) September 24, 2020
Update: The police statement was very brief. Two officers were shot and both are in stable condition with non-life threatening injures. One is in surgery. A suspect has been arrested:
#LIVE: Officials provide Louisville officer shooting update https://t.co/iP0gz94Fit https://t.co/Z3CmflPrZZ
— 10 Tampa Bay (@10TampaBay) September 24, 2020
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