71 Protesters Arrested In Louisville, Kentucky, Demanding New Information About Breonna Taylor Investigation

Louisville, Kentucky, police arrested at least 71 protesters during a peaceful march on the police training academy, demanding answers in the Breonna Taylor investigation.

Tuesday’s march was organized by social justice group Until Freedom as part of BreonnaCon, a four-day event meant to draw attention to the case. The march began at a city park around 2:30 p.m., with many carrying signs and chanting, “No lives matter until Black lives matters,” through residential areas before making its way onto main roadways in the city. Police met the protesters on an overpass near the University of Louisville Cardinal Stadium and the first arrests were reported around 5 p.m. for obstructing the roadway and disorderly conduct.

Louisville Metro Police Department Interim Chief Robert Schroeder said the arrests were only made because protesters were “creating dangerous situations as traffic continued to try to make its way in the area.”

“We want to respect the right for people to express their first amendment rights, but we also have to ensure public safety for the whole community and the protesters themselves,” Schroeder told a press conference.

Until Freedom’s march and similar protests continued throughout the city until around 12 a.m. Thursday.

Tuesday’s march, and BreonnaCon as a whole, is reflective of the growing impatience among Louisville residents regarding the lack of information shared about the investigation’s progress.

Taylor was killed during a police raid in March 2020 on her apartment for her alleged connection to a suspected drug dealer who was under investigation. Three police officers dressed in plain clothes executed a “no-knock” warrant on Taylor’s home, breaking down the door without identifying themselves as officers. Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, grabbed his licensed handgun and fired, striking one officer in the leg before they returned fire.

Taylor was shot eight times while Walker was arrested and charged with assault and attempted murder of a police officer. Walker’s charges were later dropped after a recorded 911 call showed Walker believed they were the victims of a home invasion.

Officer Jonathan Mattingly, former Detective Brett Hankison, and Officer Myles Cosgrove have been under investigation for the raid by local authorities and the FBI since May.

Besides protesters, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he was growing frustrated with the investigation’s slow pace during a press conference on Tuesday, and urged Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron to provide an update.

“We still don't have an answer or the facts in the Breonna Taylor case either,” Beshear said. “And those that are weary, imagine what that family must feel like having to wait this long.”

“We at least need an explanation of what steps still need to be done on the process side.”

While Cameron has not yet provided an update, Vice News learned Hankison and Cosgrove were part of another botched drug raid in 2018.

The two, along with three other officers present for the Breonna Taylor raid, conducted a raid on the home of Louisville resident and local artist Mario Daugherty on suspicion of selling marijuana. Bodycam footage showed police broke down the door to Daugherty’s house, throwing flash-bangs and shouting at Daugherty’s girlfriend and one of their two children. Their second child fled out the side of the house believing it was a home invasion and several officers stopped her with guns drawn.

No drugs were found in the home and Daugherty filed a lawsuit against the city in response.

“I feel like after it happened to us, if the leaders would have stepped out and tried to assist us, I feel like we could have gotten a change way before Breonna’s death,” Daugherty told Vice News. “I feel like her death could have been avoided.”