LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Dozens of people were arrested during demonstrations in Louisville Tuesday, the last day of BreonnaCon. The multi-day engagement aimed to direct resources, talent and energy toward achieving justice for Breonna Taylor.
Most of the 68 arrests made Tuesday were due to obstructing traffic, Louisville Metro Police Department Interim Chief Robert Schroeder said. Many of those arrested were released a short time later.
What You Need To Know
- Four-day event concluded with demonstrations
- Demonstrations led to arrests of 64 people
- Until Freedom activist group been in Louisville 30 days
- Celebrities and influencers part of "community convention"
BreonnaCon was organized by New York City-based activist group Until Freedom. The four-day event concluded with the second “Good Trouble Tuesday,” a weekly workshop that provided protesters nonviolent direct-action training at 2 p.m. at South Central Park followed by a march to the Louisville Metro Police Department Training Academy and what organizers called a “massive demonstration” throughout Louisville. With the application of Kingian Nonviolence, participants escalated the urgent call for justice for Breonna Taylor and the Louisville community.
Here are the events that happened throughout the day:
9:01 p.m. Protesters arrested earlier in the day released from custody.
8:59 p.m. Protesters and police meet face-to-face outside McDonald's on Broadway.
8:46 p.m. March comes to a stop at 2nd and Broadway. Police arrive.
8:14 p.m. A small group of protesters leave Jefferson Square Park and march down Liberty Street.
7:10 p.m. Until Freedom organizers say no more direct action planned for tonight.
6:51 p.m. Protesters move to Jefferson Square Park in downtown Louisville.
6:21 p.m. A UofL text alert service said the following.
"UofL Protest Update: Central Ave is open at all traffic points. TARC service ended at 6PM. Safety transportation is available at 852-6111."
5:56 p.m. Protesters still at Central Avenue bridge but seem to be planning to move to downtown Louisville.
5:41 p.m. LMPD officers and protesters move closer.
5:22 p.m. Interim Police Chief Robert Schroeder announced 64 arrests made today mostly due to traffic obstruction.
5:19 p.m. TARC announces it is suspending all transit services, effective at 6 p.m. due to demonstrations.
5:10 p.m. LMPD livestreams the arrests of protesters.
4:39 p.m. A UofL text alert service sent the following message to students regarding arrests.
"UofL Update: Protestors on Central have been peaceful with few electing arrest by LMPD without incident. Central remains closed off, TARC service continues."
3:55 p.m. Protesters are bottle necked on Central Avenue by the University of Louisville Cardinal Stadium.
3:52 p.m. LMPD vehicles trail protesters as they travel down Central Parkway.
3:45 p.m. Tim Page BBQ is offering free food and drinks to the community during the protest.
3:22 p.m. Protesters talk with LMPD officers.
3:16 p.m. LMPD officers arrive.
3:08 p.m. Protesters arrive at LMPD training academy.
2:55 p.m. Protesters walk down Waller Avenue toward the LMPD Training Academy.
2:38 p.m. Until Freedom co-founder Linda Sarsour tells protesters they need to understand the risk of being arrested.
2:28 p.m. Protesters make their way to South Central Park.
1:50 p.m. Until Freedom co-founder Linda Sarsour speaks to demonstrators before the protest begins.
1:32 p.m. Demonstrators gather at St. Mark AME Church before marching to the LMPD Training Academy.
1:14 p.m. People gather at South Central Park in Louisville, awaiting a protest training set to begin at 2 p.m.
The convention was intended to amplify calls for direct action. Called a “community convention” by organizers, BreonnaCon began Saturday, Aug. 22, and included workshops, training sessions, plenaries, empowerment programs, a school supplies giveaway, a faith revival and a community barbecue called a “Bre-B-Q.”
“BreonnaCon will engage, activate, and transform the Louisville community by building a comprehensive slate of programming that will amplify the urgent need for Justice for Breonna,” said Tamika Mallory, Until Freedom co-founder. “BreonnaCon will address a number of issues impacting the community, including food insecurity.”
Several influencers and celebrities convened in Louisville participating in BreonnaCon to “lend their voices to the amplification of the grave injustices surrounding Breonna Taylor's killing by police and how policymakers are mismanaging the case,” according to a press release from Until Freedom.
“Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Porsha Williams, former “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Phaedra Parks, “Love & Hip Hop New York” standout and entrepreneur Yandy Smith-Harris, “Real Housewives of Potomac” cast member Gizelle Bryant, “City on a Hill” actress Lauren E. Banks, “Glee” cast member Amber Riley, pastors Jamal Bryant and Steve Green, and others have participated in the four-day engagement.
Family members of George Floyd and Trayvon Martin attended BreonnaCon events on Monday. Floyd was killed earlier this year after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. His death also caused outrage and national protests. Martin, from Florida, died in 2012 after being shot and killed by George Zimmerman. His death sparked national protests and conversations about racial profiling.
Until Freedom’s main direct action event Tuesday marks the culmination of a 30-day occupation of Louisville by the activist group.