Lexington mayor urges calm as community reacts to lack of charges in Breonna Taylor case
Lexington’s mayor asked protesters to remain peaceful Wednesday as they reacted to a grand jury’s indictment of one of three officers involved in the death of Breonna Taylor.
An initially small group of protesters gathered downtown were dismayed only Brett Hankison was charged. Louisville fired him after Taylor’s death. He was indicted on three counts of wanton endangerment for firing shots into neighboring apartments on the March night Taylor was killed. None of the three officers, including Myles Cosgrove and Jonathan Mattingly, was charged criminally with Taylor’s March death during the execution of warrant.
“They give black and brown people more time for having crack-cocaine in your pocket, and they give them a $50,000 bond,” said Tayna Fogle, a representative of the Poor People’s Campaign. She added that she didn’t think wanton endangerment was enough. “Wanton endangerment is a lesser charge than first-degree murder, I can tell you that.”
In anticipation of the announcements, Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton encouraged people to avoid downtown.
“I am urging everyone to remain calm as events unfold in Louisville,” Gorton said in a statement. “Protests need to remain peaceful. As always, our police are prepared to protect this community. You can help our community by avoiding downtown today.
“Out of an overabundance of caution, we are sending non-emergency city employees who work downtown home this afternoon. Many city employees will be able to continue working from their homes. Most city offices downtown will close at 1 p.m. today.”
The Lexington Central Library on Main Street also closed at 1 p.m., and the YMCA on High Street was expected to close at 6 p.m.
Two businesses across the street from Triangle Park on West Main Street boarded up their windows Wednesday evening. There was a vigil and rally scheduled for 7 p.m., protest organizers said.
“This injustice is so horrendous,” said Juan Gomez, another representative of the Poor People’s Campaign.
There were roughly a dozen protesters outside the courthouse after the announcement was made. April Taylor, a protest organizer, said the indictment on wanton endangerment was a sign that Lexington police needed more accountability, as Hankison previously worked for the Lexington Police Department.
“If the Lexington Police Department fired Brett Hankison, Breonna Taylor may still be alive,” Taylor said.
Hankison resigned from the Lexington department in 2002, and a supervisor said in a memo that he strongly recommended against ever rehiring Hankison because of his refusal to accept supervision, violations of standing orders and general poor attitude. But the Louisville Metro Police Department hired him in 2003.
UK president speaks on former student’s death
University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto released a statement Wednesday on the Taylor case. Taylor was a former UK student, Capilouto said. He did not give his thoughts on the indictment, but he said he could listen to those raising issues of racism and act.
“How Breonna’s tragic death is addressed as a matter of law is not something I, or anyone on our campus, can control or ordain,” Capilouto said. “What we can control is how we respond as a community.”
Capilouto said the counseling center had been made available to students because he knew they’d have questions and “pain during this time.”
This story was originally published September 23, 2020 at 12:35 PM.
