BLM Folks Sought Sanctuary in a Church In Louisville After Curfew, Riot Declared, and Had a Really Ugly Moment

By Nick Arama | 10:00 AM on September 25, 2020

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AP featured image — Police and protesters converge during a demonstration, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. A grand jury has indicted one officer on criminal charges six months after Breonna Taylor was fatally shot by police in Kentucky. The jury presented its decision against fired officer Brett Hankison Wednesday to a judge in Louisville, where the shooting took place. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

There was rioting for a second night in Louisville after the decision by the grand jury in the case of the killing of Breonna Taylor.

As the curfew of 9 p.m. drew closer, some of the BLM folks were trying to avoid getting arrested. The curfew requirements provide that it “does not apply to people commuting to work, house of worship for services or seeking medical attention for themselves or others.”

With just a minute to curfew, the protesters made it to a church sanctuary downtown, where there is supposed to be an exemption for them to stay out later #Louisville #LouisvilleProtests #BreonnaTaylor pic.twitter.com/IcRXB5k883

— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 25, 2020

So the First Unitarian Church basically offered them a place to run to and have sanctuary at to beat the curfew.

We are at first Unitarian Churxh, which has offered sanctuary to protesters. pic.twitter.com/87utVULwGf

— Ryan Van Velzer (@RyanVanVelzer) September 25, 2020

From WFPL:

Officers already had a large presence on Fourth Street. According to LMPD, protesters vandalized at least one business along Fourth Street and some TARC buses. But the most serious incident took place at the main branch of the Louisville Free Public Library near the church. A WFPL reporter heard a window smash then saw a flare lobbed into the building.

So the police then followed the group to the church and there were some tense moments as the police surrounded the area and made some arrests.

I ended this video too soon, as a police officer said “you can’t reason with people” and turned around. pic.twitter.com/LCaS3hvomx

— Ryan Van Velzer (@RyanVanVelzer) September 25, 2020

Protestors on church property and police surrounding the church face off in #Louisville.pic.twitter.com/31WC3pcetO

— Bobby Boucher Esq. (@BobTheComrade) September 25, 2020

There was also another really ugly moment when the BLM folks were at the church where the white people were told to leave, including the press, and threatened with assault.

Warning for language.

White people have just been threatened with assault and kicked out of the church sanctuary grounds. Almost all press were demanded to leave as well #Louisville #LouisvilleProtests #BreonnaTaylor pic.twitter.com/NK1cJVnBU8

— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 25, 2020

Ultimately, the police negotiated with the folks at the church that people would stay on the sidewalk and leave to go home, likely after they arrested whoever they thought they needed to.