Louisville sought racial justice last year. So legislators decided to punish it.

Let one Black person be acquitted, let one Black person be bailed out of jail, then all of a sudden, there must be changes in the legal system. Why? The American legal system is designed to fail Blacks, people of color, and poor people, and does so 9 times out of 10.

When Blacks, people of color, and poor people create methods to level the playing field, some white people, not all, react with anger and hostility.

This angry, hostile reaction has resulted in horrendous legislation coming out of the KY state capitol in Frankfort. Some, not all, of the legislators believe that Louisville was “destroyed” by the protests held by Blacks, White allies, and allies of all colors, demanding justice for Breonna Taylor. Of course Louisville wasn’t destroyed. Some garbage cans were set on fire. Some windows were broken. Louisville is in a lot better shape than the small towns and rural areas represented by most of these tone deaf legislators. It is the small towns and rural areas that are stricken with hopelessness, unemployment, Oxycontin and heroin. Many small towns and rural areas in KY do not have clean drinking water, effective sewage treatment or garbage pick up, much less recycling.

So, a few Louisville legislators, along with small town and rural legislators are furious with the unrest in Louisville, with protesters getting arrested, released, arrested, released. And then a well-known Louisville activist is arrested for allegedly shooting at a wealthy white mayoral candidate, then bailed out by a community bail fund. So now we see all this legislation not only aimed at Louisville, but Blacks and white allies in Louisville.

Legislation to restrict or end community bail, legislation to prevent people from being released after being arrested for protesting, legislation to punish protesters for provoking or insulting police officers. This legislation is designed to get the perceived out of control Blacks and White allies back under control.

This legislation misses the point. The Breonna Taylor protesters were not destroying Louisville; they were saving it —from itself. The State legislature in Frankfort desperately needs to be saved from itself. These efforts by KY legislators to erase history with anti Critical Race Theory bills are sending KY in exactly the wrong direction. KY cannot be saved as long as it is in a state of denial in regards to its own past.

KY is an 87.5 percent white, welfare state that lives off Washington D.C. and Louisville. Louisville sends more money to Frankfort than it gets back.

Louisville, KY does not need moral or fiscal guidance from the state legislature in Frankfort. What Louisville needs to hear from Frankfort is — “Thank You.”

K.A. Owens is a community organizer, activist and writer.