September 23 Breonna Taylor news

By Fernando Alfonso III, Melissa Macaya, Meg Wagner, Veronica Rocha, Mike Hayes, Jessie Yeung, Tara John and Ed Upright, CNN

Updated 9:01 p.m. ET, September 24, 2020
71 Posts
Sort byDropdown arrow
8:28 a.m. ET, September 24, 2020

Our live coverage of the protests following the announcement in the Breonna Taylor case has moved here,

8:10 a.m. ET, September 24, 2020

There were close to 100 arrests in Louisville overnight, say police

From CNN’s Elizabeth Joseph 

The shadow of a police officer arresting a demonstrator against a wall in Louisville, Kentucky, on Wednesday.
The shadow of a police officer arresting a demonstrator against a wall in Louisville, Kentucky, on Wednesday. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

The Louisville Police Department says it is still tallying arrest numbers from unrest across the city last night following Wednesday's indictment announcement. However, the department believes the arrest count will be close to 100, Sgt. Lamont Washington said in a Thursday morning press release.

Police said protesters moved road barricades and began letting traffic into restricted areas, jumped on police cars and set garbage cans on fire. Two officers were injured by gunfire when protestors marched in the area of Brook and College, according to the release. 

In addition to arrests and unlawful assembly violations, police say businesses were looted including two City Gear stores and a pawn shop. Police expect to release additional information on looting locations today, the release added.

7:31 a.m. ET, September 24, 2020

It's just past 7:30 a.m. on the East Coast. Here's a catch up on what happened overnight:

Protests took place across the US after Wednesday's indictment in the Breonna Taylor case. Here's what you need to know:

The indictment: Only one of the three officers involved in Taylor's death was indicted on first-degree wanton endangerment charges.

The other two officers who also fired shots during the botched March raid were not indicted, meaning no officer was charged with killing Taylor.

The public reaction: Demonstrators and activists immediately criticized the charges against the former detective, Brett Hankison.

Attorney Ben Crump, who represents Taylor's family, called the indictment "outrageous and offensive." The NAACP also said the justice system "failed" Taylor and the charges against one officer do "not go far enough."

Tamika Palmer, Taylor's mother, was surrounded by her youngest daughter, sister, and attorneys when she learned that only one officer would be indicted for wanton endangerment.

There was "a lot of sadness and weeping," said Christopher 2X, a community activist who is assisting Palmer and who stood outside the room when Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced the decision.

Athletes including LeBron James, Danny Green, Megan Rapinoe and Kayla McBride expressed their disappointment with the grand jury's decision.

Jarrett Hill, a politics and pop culture journalist, told CNN that the indictment only confirmed that "the system is not working for us."

"I think the message to the people across this country is we don't care about you, especially if you are Black, and even more if you are women," he said. 

The protests: Protesters marched today in several US cities including New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Louisville, Nashville, Las Vegas, Atlanta and Philadelphia.

In some cities, the protests have escalated into clashes with law enforcement; two officers were shot in Louisville, and police fired tear gas at protesters in Atlanta.

Portland Police declared a riot after protestors threw molotov cocktails, rocks, broke windows and lit fires, according to a press release from the police department.

Political reaction: Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden tweeted that violence should not be the answer "even amidst the profound grief & anger today's decision."

His running mate Kamala Harris called for reforms to the justice system in a tweet. "We must never stop speaking Breonna’s name as we work to reform our justice system, including overhauling no-knock warrants,” she wrote.

Charles Ramsey, the former Philadelphia police commissioner and former Washington DC, police chief, told CNN that he agreed with the grand jury's decision.

"I do believe the one officer should have been charged -- what he did was reckless and certainly criminal. The other two officers, however, that were actually making entry into the apartment, I agree they should not have been charged criminally," Ramsey told CNN.

5:32 a.m. ET, September 24, 2020

13 people were arrested in Seattle during Wednesday night's protests

From CNN’s Joe Sutton and Christina Walker 

The Seattle Police Department has released imagery and information on arrests made Wednesday night.
The Seattle Police Department has released imagery and information on arrests made Wednesday night. Seattle Police

The Seattle Police Department has just released information on the number of arrests made during last night's protests in the city. 

“In total, officers arrested 13 individuals for charges ranging from property destruction, resisting arrest and failure to disperse as well as assault on an officer,” the department said in a news release. 

Multiple officers sustained injuries, it added, including “one who was struck in the head with a baseball bat cracking his helmet.”

The police also acknowledged there is footage circulating of an officer’s bike rolling over the head of a person in the street. 

“In addition to this, the Seattle Police Department is aware of a video circulating on the internet that apparently shows an SPD bike officer’s bike rolling over the head of an individual laying in the street. This matter will be referred to the Office of Professional Accountability for further investigation.”

4:52 a.m. ET, September 24, 2020

Seattle Police make more arrests as protests continue

From CNN’s Joe Sutton

The Seattle Police have made additional arrests early this morning as protesters continue their violence against authorities, according to the police department.  

“Commanders on scene have declared the ongoing protest an unlawful assembly after multiple fires have been set, explosives have been thrown at officers, and property damage in the surrounding area…,” the Seattle Police Department said in a tweet. 

“Protestors continue to throw rocks, bottles, and even a fire extinguisher at officers. Additional arrests have been made,” police continued in a post on Twitter

5:00 a.m. ET, September 24, 2020

Former Philadelphia police commissioner defends grand jury indictment

Former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey speaks at an event at Parkway Northwest High School for Peace and Social Justice, in Philadelphia, Pennysylvania, on February 28, 2020.
Former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey speaks at an event at Parkway Northwest High School for Peace and Social Justice, in Philadelphia, Pennysylvania, on February 28, 2020. Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Charles Ramsey, the former Philadelphia police commissioner and former Washington, DC, police chief, told CNN earlier tonight that he agreed with the grand jury's decision not to charge a single officer with killing Breonna Taylor.

Only one of the officers involved in her death was indicted, on the charge of first-degree wanton endangerment.

"I do believe the one officer should have been charged -- what he did was reckless and certainly criminal. The other two officers, however, that were actually making entry into the apartment, I agree they should not have been charged criminally," Ramsey told CNN.

Ramsey said that although Taylor's death was "unfortunate" and "tragic," the other officers had been "justified in returning fire" because Taylor's boyfriend had fired the first shot when the police entered her apartment using a no-knock warrant.

What happened that night: Taylor was sleeping next to her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker III, in the early hours of March 13, when they heard a noise. They both got up and walked to the door.

"She's yelling at the top of her lungs -- and I am too at this point -- 'who is it?' " recalled Walker. "No answer. No response. No anything."

Police forced entry into the home, and Walker said he couldn't see but he fired one shot. After entering, an officer was shot in the leg, Attorney General Daniel Cameron said earlier today.

Collectively, the three officers at the scene fired more than 30 rounds.

4:30 a.m. ET, September 24, 2020

Journalist Jarrett Hill: The message of this indictment is, "We don't care about you"

Jarrett Hill attends the Black Women in Entertainment Celebration reception in Los Angeles, on February 27, 2019.
Jarrett Hill attends the Black Women in Entertainment Celebration reception in Los Angeles, on February 27, 2019. Todd Williamson/January Images/Shutterstock

Jarrett Hill, a politics and pop culture journalist, told CNN earlier tonight that the indictment in Breonna Taylor's case only confirmed that "the system is not working for us."

"I think the message to the people across this country is we don't care about you, especially if you are black, and even more if you are women," he said. 

"People are not only upset. They are tired. We are burnt out. We are a country that have been through racial protest all throughout the year, but also Covid-19. We've dealt with a president who is a dumpster fire of stories every single day. And we see an election that is coming that does not look good for a lot of folks," he added.

"All of those things combined, put together with this moment of how frustrated we are about the ways Breonna Taylor was treated by the Louisville police, I think it really creates a perfect storm of a lot of things."

4:19 a.m. ET, September 24, 2020

Portland police declare a riot as protesters stay on the streets

From CNN’s Joe Sutton 

Portland Police declare a riot due to protesters in Porland, Oregon, on September 24.
Portland Police declare a riot due to protesters in Porland, Oregon, on September 24. KPTV

It's nearing midnight in Portland, Oregon, but protesters are still active on the streets, even as police urge them to disperse.

“To those who have gathered outside of the Justice Center to include Central Precinct: This gathering is still declared a riot. Southwest Naito Parkway to Southwest 14th Avenue from Southwest Columbia Street to Southwest Harvey Milk is closed,” the Portland Police tweeted. 
“Failure to adhere to this order may subject you to arrest, citation, or the use of crowd control agents including, but not limited to, impact weapons and/or OC munitions (Oleoresin Capsicum). Leave now.”

The police earlier said those associated with the gathering were part of an unlawful assembly.  

4:15 a.m. ET, September 24, 2020

Seattle protesters throwing objects at police, eight arrested so far

From CNN’s Joe Sutton 

Protesters clashed with police in Seattle, Washington, on September 23.
Protesters clashed with police in Seattle, Washington, on September 23. KIRO

Protesters in Seattle, Washington, have started clashing with law enforcement, according to the Seattle Police Department. 

“Protestors are now throwing glass bottles at officers at 11/Pine St,” the police tweeted. “Protestors have begun throwing fireworks at the East Precinct nearly striking officers in the process. The bulk of the protestors are in the intersection at 11/Pine St.”

Police added that they had fired pepper spray after protesters cut security cameras at the East Precinct.

Eight people have been arrested so far, police said.