Breonna Taylor's death has created larger movement in Louisville
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The mamas march on Thursdays.
The farmers and gardeners also marched, wheelbarrows and all.
There was an LGBTQ demonstration over the weekend, and, on July 24, a meticulously planned block party, which popped up in a matter of minutes and shut down Market Street downtown for hours, leading to 76 arrests.
The eclectic protests focus upon gentrification and deeprooted oppression, on unfair enforcement of the law, and, of course, police violence. Try as you might to separate one group or strand or aspect of the Breonna Taylor movement, you'll find it tightly fastened to everything else.
For 70 days — 10 straight weeks — protests have raged in Louisville. They began with impromptu demonstrations May 28, and over the first few days there was gunfire and injuries, looting, a curfew, and the death of beloved local barbecue operator David McAtee at the hands of the National Guard. Spurred by social media and grassroots organization, the movement became perpetual as protesters occupied downtown's Jefferson Square Park, where Tyler Gerth was shot and killed June 27.
The daily march es continued, though, joined by blocked roadways, visits to the houses of Mayor Greg Fischer and Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, and more than 500 arrests related to the protests.
Although some people continue to tune them out, the demonstrations have grown in scope and snowballed into a conspicuous movement that is harder and harder to ignore as it becomes more and more overt.
Breonna Taylor's mother said that her daughter would often tell people in her life to “apply pressure,” and for Stachelle Bussey, a protester and the founder of the Hope Buss, that message rings relevant in continued efforts from those near and far who demonstrate in Taylor's name.
“Pressure needs to be applied,” Bussey said. “We're doing this for Bre. The whole world is saying her name.”
She said that on July 25, as more than 300 members of the Not F****** Around Coalition, a Black militia, prepared to display its gaudy guns in downtown Louisville. It was a hot day, and some militia members, dressed head to toe in black, sought shade along Jefferson Street amid a crowd of protesters from a myriad of states, some of whom were interviewed by a national news network, present to cover the in-yourface nature of the event.