Breonna Taylor marches turn ugly: LAPD patrol car runs over two protesters and armed activists shut down Louisville roads as thousands take to the streets on the anniversary of her death
- Breonna Taylor was shot dead by police during a botched raid in Louisville, Kentucky on March 13, 2020
- Thousands joined marches across the country to commemorate the first anniversary of her death Saturday
- Protesters took to the streets to demanded police reform and an end to racial injustice
- While a majority of the demonstrations were peaceful, some spiraled out of control
- In LA, two demonstrators were seen smashing the hood of a cop car before it accelerated 'running them over'
- There were also reports of vandalism to several businesses in the Hollywood area
- Cops clashed with protesters in Seattle and Portland and in New York, one bystander was left injured after a protester smashed up the outdoor seating area of a restaurant
- A unlawful assembly was declared by police in Louisville after armed protesters blocked traffic
- Arson investigation is underway after fire in a vacant Louisville church several blocks from the protests Demonstrations to commemorate the first anniversary of Breonna Taylor's death have turned violent as protesters clashed with cops and members of the public at marches across the country.
Hundreds of activists took to the streets in Los Angeles for a march on Saturday night, where two demonstrators were seen smashing a squad car.
Video shared on social media shows the men beating the hood of the LAPD vehicle as it stopped on a road in Hollywood with its siren blaring. The cop car then slowly started to move with the men still smashing the hood, before it abruptly accelerated throwing the men onto the road.
'LAPD just ran over two protesters at the Hollywood Breonna Taylor march,' one activist stated beneath a video of the incident.
Other footage shared to social media showed police clad in riot gear as they stood off against protesters. Several businesses in the Hollywood area were also reportedly vandalized.
Meanwhile, in Louisville, Kentucky - the city where Taylor was shot dead during a botched police raid on her home on March 13, 2020 - armed demonstrators blocked roads prompting police to declare an unlawful assembly.
'Arrests will be made to those that refuse to disperse,' the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department wrote on Twitter at 9.30pm local time.
It is currently unclear whether anyone has been taken into custody
Vision shared on social media shows the Breonna Taylor protesters beating the hood of the LAPD vehicle before it accelerated and threw them onto the road
Federal agents are investigating suspected arson at this Louisville church on Saturday night. The church had been vacant and it was unclear whether the blaze was connected with nearby protests
WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE
Several blocks away from where the protests were being held, firefighters responded to a blaze at a vacant church that is being investigated as a suspected case of arson.
Federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are assisting the investigation into the two-alarm fire at the church, which was most recently used by the Greater New Hope Community Church.
The large building at West Broadway and South 5th Street had been up for auction for the past month, and it was not immediately clear whether the fire was connected to the protests.
In Seattle, police were seen blocking roads as other cops on bikes were pictured pushing a crowd forward into the downtown area. Meanwhile, in Portland, there was a heavy police presence as hundreds of demonstrators protested outside the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse.
The city has been on high alert following two nights of unrest earlier this week during unrelated protests purportedly held by Antifa.
During those rallies, far-left activists set fires, smashed windows of businesses and vandalized a federal courthouse.
Portland Police Department has yet to confirm whether there were any arrests in connection with the Breonna Taylor protesters there on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, in Louisville, Kentucky - the city where Taylor was shot dead during a botched police raid on her home on March 13, 2020 - armed demonstrators blocked roadsAnd while large-scale demonstrations were largely peaceful in New York City, one man was left injured after an activist smashed a plexiglass window at an outdoor dining set up in Manhattan.
According to an update from the NYPD, several demonstrators then 'dangerously prevented EMS from responding to this medical emergency'.
'There was nothing peaceful about the protest. It looked like Black Lives Matter,' one employee told The New York Post.
'I saw a man screaming and banging on the glass. It happened so fast.'
Demonstrators pose for a picture in front of the Georgia Capitol building in Atlanta while marching through downtown in honor of Breonna Taylor on Saturday
People attend a rally to mark one year since police officers shot and killed Breonna Taylor when they entered her home, in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday
Women carry roses while wearing face masks during a vigil and a march to mark the one year anniversary of Breonna Taylor's killing, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on Saturday
Tamika Palmer, Taylor's mother, is pictured wiping away tears on the one-year anniversary of her daughter's death
Tamika Palmer is pictured wearing a mask as people gathered to mourn the death of her daughter and call for justice on the one year anniversary of Breonna Taylor's death on SaturdayEarlier in the day, Breonna Taylor's mother Tamika Palmer led a peaceful protest in Louisville.
It consisted of hundreds marching behind a large purple banner with an illustration of Taylor's face, chanting 'No justice, no peace.'
'Eyes are on Louisville, Kentucky, today so let's show America what community looks like,' said Taylor´s aunt, Bianca Austin, who wore her niece´s emergency medical technician jacket.
Austin spoke from a stage set up in Jefferson Square Park, which became an impromptu hub for protesters during months of demonstrations last summer.
An outdoor memorial was pictured on Saturday with a mural, posters, artwork and other mementos honoring Taylor's life. Some organizers gave away food during the speeches.
Flanked by two hand-painted murals of Taylor, activists repeated calls to charge the police officers who killed the black woman during a raid at her apartment.
'We got two different Americas. We got one for black Americans and one for white Americans,' Benjamin Crump, an attorney representing Taylor's family, told the crowd of hundreds in Louisville, Kentucky.
'We got to get justice for all our people in America.'
Tributes fill the center court in Justice Square Park during a protest in downtown Louisville on the anniversary of Breonna Taylor being killed in her apartment
Marchers hold a large banner during a protest in downtown Louisville on the anniversary of Breonna Taylor being killed in her apartment
Camille Bascus, a 50-year-old black woman, traveled more than 400 miles from Atlanta to Louisville 'to represent the people without voices, because they no longer have a heartbeat. We have a voice and our lives matter.'
'It's been a year and justice has not been served,' she told AFP with tears in her eyes.
A grand jury in September recommended no homicide charges against the three white officers in the case.
Twelve months after the killing - in which police shot Taylor while looking for a former friend of hers - only one of three police officers has been charged. Brett Hankison, was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment for firing into a neighbor´s apartment.
Danah Montgomery raises her fist and chants in support with family members and other supporters during a march honoring Breonna Taylor on the one year anniversary of her death on Saturday in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Trevin Givson, Vice President of the group Family Over Everything hands flowers to Tawanna Gordon, a cousin of Breonna Taylor, during a march in Grand Rapids, Michigan, honoring her death on Saturday
A woman wearing a Green New Deal mask holds a sign during a protest march on the one year anniversary of the death of Breonna Taylor in Atlanta
Demonstrators march through downtown Atlanta in honor of Breonna Taylor on Saturday while holding a 'Justice for Breonna Taylor' sign
People participate in a protest to mark the one year anniversary of Breonna Taylor's death on Saturday in New York City
Over a dozen cars filled with demonstrators drive along East Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky during a protest to remember the life of Breonna Taylor on Saturday
A juror said later those charges were the only ones brought to the grand jury by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron.
The failure to press homicide charges - a decision denounced as 'outrageous' by Taylor's family - sparked sporadic violence in Louisville last September.
President Joe Biden on Saturday declared his support for reforms.
'Breonna Taylor's death was a tragedy, a blow to her family, her community, and America,' he tweeted.
'As we continue to mourn her, we must press ahead to pass meaningful police reform in Congress. I remain committed to signing a landmark reform bill into law.'
Taylor's family and friends are now looking to the results of a federal probe, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation saying on Saturday its work was moving forward.
'Even though the COVID pandemic presented several unexpected obstacles, FBI Louisville has made significant progress in the investigation,' the field office in that city said in a statement.
Redd Bracey, family friend of Breonna Taylor, wears a mask with a photo of Breonna Taylor on it during the one year anniversary of her death in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Saturday
A woman wears a black leather jacket with 'Breonna Taylor 4 Ever #SayHerName' written in gold on Saturday in New York City
Michael Pyles has a 'B' shaved into his hair during a protest in Louisville on Saturday on the anniversary of Breonna Taylor's death
The bureau remained 'steadfast in its commitment to bringing this investigation to its appropriate conclusion,' the statement said.
The Louisville rally came a day after Kenneth Walker, Taylor's boyfriend, filed a federal lawsuit against the Louisville Metro Police Department, alleging his constitutional rights were violated during last year's botched raid.
Walker last year filed an ongoing state lawsuit against the city and police, saying he was the victim of assault, battery, false arrest and malicious prosecution. He also spoke briefly to the crowd on Saturday.
'They dropped the charges against me, but that is not where we finish,' he said, referring to charges that were filed and later dismissed against him for shooting at the police officers during the incident.
'We got to keep going. Keep going.'
Taylor´s front door was breached by Louisville officers who obtained a controversial no-knock warrant as part of a drug raid. She was asleep with Walker in her apartment around midnight when they heard noise at the door.
Protesters carry Black Lives Matter flags as they march for Breonna Taylor on Jefferson Street in Louisville on Saturday
Tamika Mallory and other members of Until Freedom look out toward a crowd of protesters during a Breonna Taylor memorial protest in Jefferson Square Park on Saturday
Tamika Palmer, mother of Breonna Taylor, and others lead a memorial march for Breonna Taylor near Jefferson Square Park on Saturday
Ysrael Binns, 7, right, holds her fist up with fellow marchers during a protest in downtown Louisville on Saturday
Protesters gathered at Jefferson Square Park in Louisville on Saturday to mark the one-year anniversary of the killing of Breonna Taylor
A truck has a portrait of Breonna Taylor displayed with messaging during a protest in Louisville on Saturday
Walker, believing it was a break-in, fired his gun. One officer was struck, and he and two other officers fired 32 shots into the apartment, striking Taylor five times.
A Kentucky judge last week signed an order permanently closing a criminal case against Walker for firing at the officer.
While Walker said police battered down the door unannounced, the officers insisted they had identified themselves, a claim some witnesses have disputed.
No drugs were found in Taylor´s apartment and two of the officers involved were fired in December.
Linda Sarsour, co-founder of the Until Freedom social justice organization, said the officers need to be held accountable.
'Right now, the only thing that has happened is that the police officers have been fired from the police department, that is a human resources issue. We need justice,' she said.
Taylor's death at first escaped widespread attention, but it suddenly became a focus for Black Lives Matter protesters following Floyd's death on on May 25.
Breonna Taylor was shot and killed in her apartment by police looking for a former friend of hers. Pictured: a man holds a portrait of Breonna Taylor during a march honoring the one year anniversary of her death on Saturday
Linda Sarsour and Tamika Mallory, co-founders of Until Freedom, address demonstrators during a rally in Louisville on Saturday
Ysrael Binns, 7, carries a 'Breewayy' sign on her hover board during a protest in Louisville on Saturday on the anniversary of Breonna Taylor being killed in her apartment
A makeshift memorial at the Louisville demonstration marking the one-year anniversary of Breonna Taylor's shooting death by police
A sign stands in the middle surrounded by other signs and tributes during a protest in downtown Louisville on the anniversary of Breonna Taylor being killed in her apartment
SIPA USA via PA Images A cross is carried during a protest in downtown Louisville on the anniversary of Breonna Taylor being killed in her apartment by LMPD officers. March 13, 2021 Breonna 0o7a2231 (Photo by Alton Strupp/Courier Journal/USA Today Network/Sipa USA)
Family members and supporters march in the street during a rally hosted by Family Over Everything honoring Breonna Taylor in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Saturday
To settle a civil suit, Louisville authorities agreed to pay the Taylor family $12 million and initiate police reforms.
For Bascus, that is not enough. It 'doesn't bring Breonna Taylor back.'
Demonstrator Olivia Alexander said the anniversary of Taylor's death reminded her to continue to work for racial justice, despite some setbacks in the past year.
'As we've seen, there´s not been any justice for Breonna Taylor, and a lot of the other brutal killings of Black Americans, so holding onto hope has been the most important thing,' Alexander said.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, tweeted a statement in support of Taylor's family, including her mother, Tamika Palmer.
'Today we remember Breonna Taylor, her tragic and unnecessary loss and the immense work we have ahead of us,' he said.
'I will never understand the unimaginable grief of Tamika Palmer and other family and loved ones, but I am committed to listening and working with others to be build a more suitable and fair commonwealth for every Kentuckian.'
A woman speaks into a megaphone as people gather for a vigil and a march to mark the one year anniversary of Breonna Taylor's killing, in the Brooklyn borough of New York
Eeshyia King attaches 'Black Women Matter' and 'Justice for Breonna Taylor' pins to dozens of red roses left at the entrance to the Flint Police Department by 50 demonstrators marching to honor Breonna Taylor in downtown Flint, Michigan on Saturday
Rashard Wagner, 36 of Flint, holds a single rose before laying it down at the Flint Police Department after nearly 50 demonstrators marched to honor Breonna Taylor on the one-year anniversary of her death on Saturday
People march on the West Side Highway in Manhattan on Saturday in a protest to mark the one year anniversary of Breonna Taylor's death
Hundreds of BLM protesters gathered at the Times Square and marched on streets for Breonna Taylor in New York City, United States on Saturday
Protesters in Times Square wear masks and hold signs for George Floyd and Breonna Taylor on Saturday during a protest
Hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters gathered at Times Square to lie on the ground in a protest for justice regarding the death of Breonna Taylor on Saturday
People participate in a die-in during a New York City protest to mark the one year anniversary of Breonna Taylor's death on Saturday
Hundreds of BLM protesters gathered at the Times Square and marched on streets for Breonna Taylor in New York City on Saturday
Louisville Mayor Greg Fisher said his city has made significant reforms in policies and priorities, but that there was still 'a good deal of work ahead.'
Taylor's 'death resonates still in our city and around the world, underscoring the need to reform systems and act more urgently to advance racial justice and equity,' he said on Twitter.
Tawanna Gordon, a cousin of Breonna Taylor, was pictured receiving flowers during a march in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Saturday. She told WOOD-TV that organizers worked to make sure the march was peaceful.
'There are people that still care,' Gordon said. 'People who do not identify human race as ethnicity or particular color. That's inspiring.'
She added: 'We wanted to acknowledge her legacy and not be in confusion.'
'We don't hate police. We know they're needed,' Gordon said.
'(We) just want (to know) officers they're hiring are there to serve the community, not for self-serving purposes.'
Hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters gathered at the Times Square and marched on streets in Brooklyn and Manhattan for Breonna Taylor in New York City on Saturday.
Protesters were also pictured holding roses at demonstrations in Flint, Michigan, while a car rally traveled down Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky.
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