LOUISVILLE, Ky. (LEX 18) — The cleanup begins this morning in Louisville after a long night of protests and unrest.
Demonstrators were protesting the recent deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
Floyd died while in police custody in Minneapolis. Taylor was an EMT in Louisville when she was killed by police in her own home in March.
Buildings and property were damaged across several blocks in Louisville during Friday night's protest. LMPD reports two people were arrested and no significant injuries.
Mayor Greg Fischer criticized the destruction of property seen Friday night.
“This violence and destruction is absolutely unacceptable. It besmirches any claim to honor Breonna Taylor's memory," Fischer said in a statement. “Just this (Friday) morning, Breonna's family called for peaceful and safe protest.”
Fischer said most of the grievances associated with Taylor's death have been addressed in a live-streamed press conference after 1 a.m. Fischer had announced Friday that the use of no-knock warrants by police were being suspended, the latest in a series of policy changes and other actions in response to Taylor's death.
"I don't know what words to say except I mean it's tragic," concerned neighbor, Kenny Brooks, said as he surveyed the damage this morning.
At Fourth Street Live!, buildings, roads, and even an ATM machine are covered in spray paint. Many of the messages disparage the police.
One painted message said, "blue lives murder" while another read "burn it down". Down the street from Fourth Street Live! another message said, "all cops uphold white supremacy."
A local pastor at Cross Baptist Church pitched in and helped crews rake up the glass that was on the ground after windows were smashed in. He said Louisville is a compassionate city, but there was no evidence of that this morning.
"Yes, I know a lot of folks are frustrated and angry because of current events that are happening in various cities throughout these United States, but violence is not the answer and this is just totally out of order," Pastor A.D. Malone Jr., said.
