By Sarah Williams, 9/25/2020
A timeline of events in people’s uprising here in Lexington, KY.
Following the murder of #MikeBrown in Ferguson, MO, August 9, 2014, concerned citizens formed various organizations, alliances, and initiatives to address police brutality in Lexington, KY. The greatest move towards justice was realized in the local police department being required to wear body cams. View a video depicting a historical timeline of the events leading up to #LPDBodyCams with #HandsUpKY here:
The struggle was not over with this victory. The marathon for #LPDAccountability reignited in February 2019 when former Lexington Police Department chaplain was caught on video repeatedly punching an autistic teen in the upper body. View video here:
Cooperation Lexington assisted concerned citizens in filing a formal complaint against Donovan Stewart for his actions in the preceding video. In May 2019, Cooperation Lexington and concerned community met with several members of city council to present demands for #LPDAccountability. (The most recent version of these demands with a historical timeline of events can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MEPEjRKswqvGOtzQhoJCahsvDECjbr2pE2JHWwYnG7E/edit
The last week of May 2020 would bring the nation to a boiling point as black people across the country were being murdered and targeted by police. Here in Lexington, hundreds of concerned citizens took to the streets to protest police brutality, demand justice for #BreonnaTaylor #AhmadAubrey #GeorgeFloyd and #DaezonMorgan and #LPDAccountability. As our community rallied in nonviolent protests for 44 consecutive days, Cooperation Lexington, in alliance with several community groups and organizations, brought their demands to Mayor Linda Gorton, City Council, and Police Chief Lawrence Weathers again.
While the Mayor responded with the formation of the Commission on Racial Justice and Equality, tasked with dismantling systemic racism in Lexington, KY, and we await their recommendations, it is time for the people to develop and implement The Peoples Blueprint for Dismantling Systemic Racism.
To build and implement the People’s Blueprint, we must educate ourselves and our community on local issues, civic engagement, and our history. We are creating a live digital media initiative to create a COVID safe space to educate and engage community. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, Periscope, and YouTube to tune in to our digital media initiatives.
(Access the initial People’s Assembly for building this Blueprint here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-9tmmooi24a4H1nyvOuVl1ScpUjo4TPE )
To stay up to date about current civil disobedient direct action, aka protest visit Www.lpdaccountability.com
The People’s Blueprint 