The Louisville Police Department has declared a “state of emergency” in anticipation of the eventual protests that will take place in the city after the imminent decision of a grand jury on the murder of the African-American Breonna Taylor by three policemen.
Along these lines, the traffic of cars in the city center will be restricted and the cancellation of the days off and pending vacation requests for the police force was announced “until further notice,” it was stated in the Louisville Courier-Journal.
“We don’t know when the attorney general will make an announcement, or what it will be. Our goal with these steps is to ensure space and opportunity for potential protesters to come together and express their first amendment rights, and to prepare for any eventuality to keep everyone safe,” Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer tweeted.
As we reported yesterday, it is expected that the “cops likely to not be charged” in the death of Taylor.
Faced with this potential problem, Governor Andy Beshear said that he would authorize the deployment of the Kentucky National Guard and the State Police in Louisville “if necessary” and that their functions “would be limited, specific, in support of the Police and infrastructure protection critical ”, according to reports WDRB.
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is expected to announce later this week whether the three officers reported in the death of Breonna Taylor will be criminally charged.
Since Taylor’s death, there have been various demonstrations that have been held in the city and around the country demanding the arrest of the police officers who have been denounced and that they be criminally prosecuted.
Last week Louisville announced a court agreement that will compensate Taylor’s family with $12 million. This was announced by Mayor Greg Fischer during a press conference attended by relatives and attorneys of the victim.
In addition, reforms to police procedures have been contemplated to prevent future deaths, among them that the house search warrants are previously approved by an officer or commander in charge.