On Wednesday, a grand jury indicted a former Louisville police officer on charges of wanton endangerment for his actions during a March police raid that killed Bronna Taylor, a Black medical worker. No charges have been brought against the two other officers involved in the fatal shooting, and none of the officers has been charged in Taylor’s death.
Following Wednesday’s announcement, action has been planned across New Orleans and Louisiana in solidarity with Black Lives Matter protesters asking for justice in Louisville, and across the nation. On Friday, Sept. 25, The Village, NAACP, American Civil Liberties Union, BR for the People, Democracy at Work LSU, and NBPP are hosting a March Demanding Justice for Trayford Pellerin, Ronald Greene, Breonna Taylor, and the others whose lives have been lost to police brutality. The march will begin at 4:00 p.m. in front of the Attorney General’s office at 1885 N. Third Street. Demands posted on Twitter via participating groups include:
- Reform accountability and transparency, including sensitivity training, mental health training, and legislation to end qualified immunity
- 48-hour release of body cam footage in fatal officer-involved shootings or on allegations of police brutality
- Independent community police commissions w/subpoena power
- Defunding police budget in favor of community policing programs that end police brutality
- In-depth psychological evaluations of police trainees
- Establishment of a publicly-accessible database of police officer complaints
- Mandated required percentage for community police officers (hired & living in their community)
- Police demographics consistent with community make-up
- Investment in non-incarceration diversion for some crimes
- Improved recidivism and rehabilitation programs already in the criminal justice system
- Defund and abolish private prisons
- Prior notice for families as related to police-related fatalities
- Immediate review and release of nonviolent offenders
- Immediate review and release of nonviolent juvenile offenders
- Immediate appointment of individuals nominated by the community to criminal justice related boards (i.e. prison enterprises board)
- Censure of Clay Higgins
- Termination of Colonel Reeves from the Louisiana State Police
This march will be followed by seven days of action planned in New Olreans by the New Olreans People’s Assembly. Demands include flipping the police budget in favor of community policing and other initiatives proven to reduce crime, housing as a human right, a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, and a living wage across the city. Daily rallies and marches will begin at 1250 Poydras St. on the following times and dates:
- Thursday, October 1, 6 p.m.
- Friday, October 2, 2:30 p.m.
- Saturday, October 3, 6 p.m.
- Sunday, October 4, 6 p.m.
- Monday, October 5, 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 6, 6 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 7, 6 p.m.
At all marches, participants are asked to wear masks and maintain physical distance as possible.
