Downtown in Louisville in Jefferson County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
2020 Racial Justice Protests
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 16, 2024
1. 2020 Racial Justice Protests Marker, Side One
Built in 1978, Jefferson Square Park memorializes first responders killed in the line of duty. In 2020, it became a rallying place for those demanding justice for Breonna Taylor, a Black woman tragically killed by Louisville Metro Police serving a search warrant. Protesters called this space Injustice Square Park and held demonstrations that drew global attention.
Over 2,000 U.S. cities saw racial justice protests fueled by the police killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and others. Locally, these demonstrations prompted police reform and policy changes to improve racial equity in the city. Many here also mourned Louisvillians David McAtee and photographer Tyler Gerth, killed in incidents related to the protests.
Erected 2022 by Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Law Enforcement. A significant historical year for this entry is 2020.
Location. 38° 15.243′ N, 85° 45.582′ W. Marker is in Louisville, Kentucky, in Jefferson County. It is in Downtown. It is on West Jefferson Street (U.S. 60) west of South 5th Street, on the left when traveling west. Marker is in the northeast corner of Jefferson Square Park.
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Regionally, this marker is in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Ohio River Valley. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Thomas Jefferson Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); City and County Named / Jefferson County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); George Rogers Clark (within shouting distance of this marker); Jefferson County (within shouting distance of this marker); Louisville Firefighters Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Kentucky Medal Of Honor Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Louisville Law Enforcement Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Louisville Bar Association (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Louisville.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Louis XVI (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing).
Regarding 2020 Racial Justice Protests. McAtee was killed June 1, 2020 outside his Louisville restaurant following a confrontation with police and National Guard troops enforcing a curfew. Louisville police officer Katie Crews, whose firing of pepper balls at McAtee's niece sparked the confrontation, later pleaded
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 16, 2024
2. 2020 Racial Justice Protests Marker, Side Two
Gerth died June 27, 2020 after being shot by a man who fired into a crowd of protestors gathered at Jefferson Square Park. The shooter, Steven Lopez, previously had been evicted several times by protestors for being disruptive. Lopez later pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and 22 counts of wanton endangerment, and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Also see . . .
1. Emotional scenes from Louisville protests in 2020. Louisville Courier Journal photojournalists captured these images of the racial justice protests, which continued for most of the year. (Submitted on July 10, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
2. Killing of Breonna Taylor. On March 13, 2020, Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old African-American woman, was fatally shot in her Louisville, Kentucky, apartment when at least seven police officers forced entry into the apartment as part of an investigation into drug dealing operations. (Wikipedia) (Submitted on July 10, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 16, 2024
3. 2020 Racial Justice Protests Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on September 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 9, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 199 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 9, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
