Saturday was the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby here in Louisville but it was a Derby unlike any other. Delayed for the first time since 1945 because of covid-19, the first Saturday in September was the occasion rather than the usual first Saturday in May. The date wasn't the only thing out of the ordinary about this Derby, aside from the horse owners, a few VIPs, and the occasional sniper, there was no crowd present to watch or cheer the horses on.
There was a large crowd at the track still but it consisted mostly of LMPD, state troopers, and National Guard. I've been at the track for the Derby several times (albeit working there rather than as a guest) and there is always a large police presence but this year there was more guarding a practically empty track than there usually is when it is full.
As I've mentioned in some of my other posts, protests over the killings of Breonna Taylor, David McAtee, George Floyd, and many many others have been ongoing for over 100 consecutive days here and they weren't about to stop for some horse race (even if it is the fastest two minutes in sports). Chants and signs saying "No Justice, No Derby" had become common around the city for some time now and in addition to the local groups protesting there were several different groups coming into town for the occasion as well.
Right wing and white supremacist groups showed up in downtown early in the day (but that's a post for another day) but that was over and done with hours before things started happening at Churchill Downs. As it got closer to post time for the run for the roses, the NFAC (Not Fucking Around Coalition) militia gathered near the track and marched on Churchill Downs. At roughly the same time in nearby South Central Park a march organized by Until Freedom gathered and then set out for the track as well.
Before departing the park marchers were given instructions, mostly related to following the marshals and making sure that nobody did anything that they weren't supposed to (white men were to check white men, black women were to intervene with black women, and so on) and to minimize the risk of police escalation/aggression (white allies were to be on the perimeter of the march). As the march left the park it made its way through neighborhoods before making it to the street that would take it to the park. Along the way many were out in their yards, some cheering and holding signs of support, others staring stonily and demanding marchers stay off their property (marshals and marchers would post up in front of these houses to make sure everyone complied and there was no trouble).
Once the march made it to the track it proceeded to circle the entire perimeter of Churchill Downs (the track covers 147 acres so that was a bit of a hike). The entire time it was doing this a large contingent of LMPD in riot gear as well as some mounted on horses, along with state troopers and National Guardsmen in Humvees mirrored its movements from just inside the perimeter fence. (The lead photo of this post is from right before they headed out to shadow us)
Periodically as it circled the track the march would stop and individuals would address the gathered throng (CNN put it at over a thousand people in the march), lead it in chants (these also continued while we were marching) or simply encourage us to make lots of noise. Although we stayed close to the fence the entire march marshals were constantly moving along it ensuring that we stayed a few feet away from it and that people didn't climb it or give LMPD an excuse to do anything (not that they usually need much anyway).
Eventually we completed our circuit of Churchill Downs and made our way down the sidewalk to the front of the track (in the photo with all the police cars along the fence, the sidewalk to the left, on the outside of the fencing was where we were). While we had been circling the track, NFAC had marched in and demonstrated on the sidewalk across from Churchill. When we made it back around they marched out and we took their place along the fence.
Once we were down at the fence people took turns speaking and leading chants with megaphones, "There's no riot here, why are you in riot gear?" being a particular favorite this day. Just in time for the Derby we made as much noise as possible (I may not be an unbiased observer but it seemed at least as loud as the crowd noise of a more typical Derby) while a plane flying overhead unfurled a banner saying "Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor".
Even after the Derby had finished many remained on the sidewalk, occasionally heaping abuse upon the forces arrayed before us, chanting, and otherwise expressing themselves. Eventually the crowd slowly filtered away leaving just the cops in riot gear standing in the street and looking a bit ridiculous. When one compares the lack of response the white militia downtown got earlier in the day to the heavy handed and militarized one we encountered at Churchill Downs it is easy to see why there is no trust in LMPD and why people are still protesting and out in the streets.
