Breonna Taylor updates: First Unitarian Church plans to close at 11 p.m. Sunday
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Sunday marks the fifth day since a grand jury declined to indict three police officers for the death of Breonna Taylor.
Follow along for updates throughout the day.
8:55 p.m. — Jefferson Square Park empty ahead of curfew
The park where about 100 people had gathered earlier in the day was empty with just a few minutes left until curfew Sunday night.
Meanwhile, the group that left the park had marched south to First Unitarian Church.
8:20 p.m. — Small group marches from park
A group of about 60 people left the park with less than an hour until the 9 p.m. curfew, marching toward First Unitarian Church. Protest leaders and LMPD said the church plans to close at 11 p.m. tonight, after which protesters will be given 45 minutes to return home.
8 p.m. — Leaders tell crowd church services end at 11 p.m.
With one hour to curfew, about 100 protesters remained in Jefferson Square Park. A leader told the crowd First Unitarian Church will close at 11 p.m., after which protesters will have until 11:45 p.m. to return home.
LMPD spoke with church leaders, who said services will end at 11 p.m., according to department spokeswoman Jessie Halladay.
"We discussed that 45 minutes should be a reasonable amount of time for everyone to get home following the service, which is allowable under the curfew," Halladay said.
Rep. Attica Scott visits park three nights after her arrest
State Rep. Attica Scott stopped by the park and met with David Bowen, who serves in Wisconsin’s state house as a representative of the 10th District, which covers Milwaukee.
He said he got to Louisville this weekend to support the city’s movement for justice.
“It’s good to connect with other folks who are fighting for the same things we are,” he said, noting the continued protests in that city.
Standing near the memorial for Taylor, he said he took hope from the young people leading movements in Louisville, Milwaukee and other cities across the country.
“They’ll be the next folks leading in the future,” he said. “It’s an honor to see that in real time.”
Bowen was joined in Louisville by Brandon Wilborn, 19, and Tiffany Henry, 37, with Milwaukee’s Urban League.
Henry said she came to Louisville to observe the energy of the city’s organizers.
“As a Black woman, that could have been me,” she said of Taylor’s killing.
6:30 p.m. — Calm atmosphere at Jefferson Square Park
Less than 100 people were gathered at Jefferson Square Park early Sunday evening, eating food and having conversation.
One woman was giving chair massages in the shade near the memorial for Tyler Gerth, a photographer who was shot and killed during a June protest at the park. A Lauryn Hill song played on the speakers.
A few National Guard Members stood watch at the Judicial Center and Fourth Street Live.
Racial justice advocates condemn Louisville curfew, arrests
Speakers with and guests of the Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression gathered in Jefferson Square Park Sunday to condemn the grand jury decision in the Breonna Taylor case, the countywide curfew and the arrests of prominent leaders of the protests.
More:Rep. Attica Scott to fight 'bogus charges' from her arrest at Breonna Taylor protest
LMPD reports Saturday night looting
Louisville Police said Sunday there were several looting reports from Saturday night:
- Louisville Truck & Auto Sales — Glass broken
- Walgreens 8300 block of Watterson Trail — pharmacy break-in
- Home Center on Fourth Street — Glass broken
- Game Stop on Raggard Road
- Game Stop on Dixie Highway — break-in
- Audubon Pharmacy on Poplar Level Road — Break-in
- Mobile Cricket on Poplar Level Road — Break-in
Spalding University responds to Saturday night building damage
Spalding University employees, including President Tori Murden McClure, went out Sunday afternoon to repair and clean up damage to buildings from Saturday night.
Police reported windows at Spalding University and Presentation Academy smashed and graffiti sprayed on several buildings after a night of protests. Police caught on video a car in a Spalding University parking lot being set on fire, and they say fireworks were used to set off "small explosions."
"While we denounce the dangerous, destructive acts that took place on our campus overnight, we want to make it clear that Spalding continues to support the struggle for equity in the name of social and racial justice," McClure said in a message to the campus community. "Indeed, the vast majority of the demonstrations that have occurred for the past four months have been peaceful and lawful, and they are raising important awareness about systems of injustice in our country and the suffering that is taking place as a result of them."
25 Arrested Saturday night
Twenty-five more people were arrested during protests Saturday night — the fourth night of protests following the grand jury decision to charge only one officer in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor.
The charges are mostly curfew violations (there were 22 curfew-related charges. Some people were charged with more than one thing). Others are for rioting, theft and fleeing police. Most of the people arrested were from Louisville, according to police.
Hundreds of protesters gathered at Jefferson Square Park and marched around downtown without any run-ins with Louisville police before returning to the park with less than two hours before the city's 9 p.m. curfew.
Background: What to know about Breonna Taylor protests as of Sunday morning
Some protesters planned to occupy the park past curfew and told anyone who didn't want to risk arrest to leave. The crowd shrank significantly, and just before 9 p.m., protesters remaining in the park returned to First Unitarian Church to avoid police.
At least four people were arrested shortly after 9 p.m. at Sixth and Broadway, and about 100 or more protesters gathered at the church.
Around midnight, police say a smaller group of people left the church and " began causing destruction."
Police say there were plywood shields on fire in front of the church, windows at Spalding University and Presentation Academy smashed and graffiti sprayed on several buildings. Police caught on video a car in a Spalding University parking lot being set on fire, and they say fireworks were used to set off "small explosions."
LMPD, along with the FBI, the fire department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said they're looking for the people responsible.
Reach reporter Sarah Ladd at sladd@courier-journal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ladd_sarah. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe.