Breonna Taylor case: state of emergency declared in Louisville, Kentucky
In Louisville, tribute to Breonna Taylor, September 11, 2020. REUTERS
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In the United States, the city of Louisville, in the state of Kentucky, is under high tension.
Access to the city center was restricted, and the town hall declared a state of emergency.
Drastic measures taken pending the decision of the Attorney General whether or not to prosecute two police officers who killed a 26-year-old African-American girl, Breonna Taylor, during an intervention at her home more than six months ago.
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Even if they do not say it openly, the local authorities fear excesses and violent reactions following the prosecutor's decision.
"
We hope that this security device will not be useful but we want to be prepared just in case
," said the Louisville police official.
The declaration of a state of emergency allows the town hall to quickly take other measures, such as putting in place a curfew.
The National Guard could also step in if needed, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said.
In the city center, shops and restaurants are barricaded.
The atmosphere is very tense in Louisville, where protesters have taken to the streets for months and demand that the investigation into
the death of Breonna Taylor
advance, and that the two police officers be charged.
It is on this last point that the Republican and African-American attorney Daniel Cameron must make a decision within a few days.
So far, the two agents have kept their functions.
On Tuesday September 22, one of them defended his action in an email sent to all colleagues at his station.
“
What we did was legitimate and moral.
It is sad to see
, he continues,
how good people are treated like devils and real criminals canonized.
"
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