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Armed demonstrators confront Breonna Taylor protesters in Louisville before Kentucky Derby
The 146th Kentucky Derby was expected to run Saturday, with conflicting protests by Breonna Taylor activists and armed demonstrators.
Local
Though Saturday evening's 146th Kentucky Derby will lack spectators, the horses, jockeys and trainers will be far from alone in Louisville.
On Saturday afternoon, armed demonstrators organized by Dylan Stevens – an online personality known as "The Angry Viking" – confronted protesters who were demanding justice for the shooting death of Breonna Taylor during a police raid. The Taylor protesters are calling for the Derby to be canceled.
As Taylor activists chanted, "Say her name: Breonna Taylor," the armed group, which had convened earlier at a downtown park, responded by chanting: "All lives matter," "U-S-A" and "Back the blue," referring to police. Groups exchanged heated words with one another, but there were no major physical altercations.
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Stevens told protesters he does not oppose them. He said the group was there because, in July, the leader of "Not F*cking Around Coalition" said he would "burn the city to the ground" if justice was not delivered for Taylor.
Video taken by Courier-Journal reporters at the scene showed dozens of predominantly white men, women and children with Stevens' group marching through downtown Louisville, clad in helmets and face masks. They were openly carrying firearms and holding "Trump 2020" and American flags.
There appeared to be little police presence, reporters said.