Militias descend on Louisville for 'No justice, no Derby' Breonna Taylor protest
In a normally genteel setting where firearms outnumbered thoroughbreds Saturday, Black Lives Matter protesters demanding justice for Breonna Taylor targeted the Kentucky Derby, marching peacefully outside the spires, stables and Millionaires Row at Churchill Downs before the start of the iconic race.
Taylor, 26, a medical worker, died at the hands of Louisville police during a March 13 raid on her apartment. The three officers involved are still being investigated and have not been charged in connection with Taylor’s death, which sparked 100 days of protests centered around a downtown memorial.
Wilson was at the Taylor memorial Saturday morning when members of the group American Patriots, armed white followers of a YouTuber known as the “Angry Viking,” arrived and argued with Black Lives Matter protesters. Police intervened, and no one was seriously injured or charged. Protesters also spotted members of another far-right militia, the Three Percenters.
Henderson, 47, who is Black, said she spoke with the “Angry Viking,” Dylan Stevens, and his followers, supporters of President Trump who told her they came looking for a Georgia-based Black militia known as the NFAC that was expected to attend the protest.“I don’t like any militias,” Henderson said. “Stay away with that. We protect ourselves.”
When several relatives of Taylor drove by, friends, including Felicia Garr, waved and blew kisses. Garr, 52, who works in construction, said some have been scared to join the protests due to either violence or COVID-19.“Everybody can’t walk. But for those who can, we need to be here,” she said, considering the crowd as they set off. “It speaks volumes for these people to be here.”“Whose side are you on?” she wrote.
Michael Pyles, 30, said he yelled at a member of NFAC because the group had confronted him at a past protest.
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