LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The running of the 146th Kentucky Derby is Saturday and Kentucky law enforcement officials are preparing for social justice protests outside Churchill Downs that will likely coincide with the event.
Tensions in Louisville remain high with at least four groups plan to hold Breonna Taylor protests, according to WDRB. No charges have been filed in over five months following the March shooting death of Taylor by Louisville Metro Police Department officers
PREPARING FOR PROTESTS- Mayor Greg Fischer said it's unclear how many people will gather on Derby Day but that those who block traffic and/or trespass on private property against the wishes of property owners will be cited or arrested. https://t.co/IfQotBFtRC
— WDRB News (@WDRBNews) September 3, 2020
The groups planning to protest include the Justice and Freedom Coalition, Until Freedom, Black Lives Matter and the NFAC, an armed militia group. Members of the Three Percenter movement told police they plan to rally at Cox Park, located a few miles away. Police told WDRB that they plan to monitor the rally.
“We understand why protesters want to be at Churchill Downs. It’s obviously a big event, and we support peaceful and lawful efforts to draw attention to the need for racial equity in our city and our country. ... I want people to remember that, just as they were last week for Good Trouble Tuesday and other days, LMPD will be ready. They have plans in place and are ready to step in when needed to maintain public safety,” Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer told WDRB.
Police plan to direct groups with different viewpoints into specific areas near Churchill Downs to prevent conflict. Kentucky State Police and Kentucky National Guardsmen will provide security, which they have done every year at the Derby.
LMPD Maj. Aubrey Gregory said that the National Guard will assist in public safety concerns in the area around the track.
“They’ll help by facilitating with some traffic control to ensure that those persons who are exercising their First Amendment rights are safe and they may also respond if there’s any incidents of violence or destruction. That’ll depend on what it is, and they’ll always be assisted by LMPD officers,” Gregory told WDRB.
Because this year’s Derby will not have spectators, police expect less road closures and pedestrian traffic.
In March, Taylor was shot several times by officers who went to her home with a search warrant as part of a drug investigation. Officers used a no-knock search warrant to break down the door, and were met with gunfire from Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker. One of the officers, Jonathan Mattingly, was shot in the leg. Mattingly and two other officers, Myles Cosgrove and Brett Hankinson were placed on administrative reassignment after the shooting, and Hankison was later fired.
No drugs were found in the home and Taylor was unarmed.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Cox Media Group
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