State of Emergency Declared Ahead of Breonna Taylor Decision
The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) announced a state of emergency on Monday in preparation for a grand jury decision in the Breonna Taylor case....
It's been nearly 200 days since Breonna Taylor was killed while sleeping at her apartment. Her death was followed by several protests and demonstrations demanding justice for the 26-year-old EMT. Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron expected to make an announcement about whether or not the state will put criminal charges against the cops who killed her.
A post was made on the LMPD Facebook page around 3:35 this morning (Tuesday) saying that although it is unclear when Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron will make an announcement in the case, the department is taking the following actions:
• LMPD will place vehicle barricades around Jefferson Square Park and the perimeter of the downtown area to ensure pedestrian safety.
• LMPD will further restrict vehicle access in the blocks immediately surrounding Jefferson Square Park, allowing only pedestrian access. Barriers will be placed at all intersections.
• LMPD will restricting vehicle traffic in the downtown area between Market Street south to Broadway, and from 2nd Street to Roy Wilkins. Police will work with people who live, work and have business in this area to allow necessary access.
• LMPD will be limiting surface parking on the streets from Market Street to Broadway and 2nd Street to Roy Wilkins. LMPD requests that anyone who has vehicles parked in this area take steps to immediately remove them.
• LMPD will be limiting access to parking garages in the area.
To get into downtown, go to either:
- Second and Jefferson
- Ninth and Chestnut
- Eighth and Market
- Seventh and Broadway
To get out of downtown, go to:
- Ninth and Jefferson
- Second and Chestnut
- Third and Market
- Fourth and Broadway
Mayor Greg Fischer tweeted Tuesday morning saying the barricades were for safety and would ensure a “space and opportunity for potential protesters to gather.”
Since the national demonstrations over police brutality and systemic racism began in late May, Louisville officials have banned the use of no-knock warrants, which allow the police to forcibly enter people’s homes to search them without warning, and, in late June, fired one of the officers involved in the shooting.
In September, Louisville officials agreed to pay $12 million to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit brought by Ms. Taylor’s mother and to institute reforms aimed at preventing future deaths by officers.