LOUISVILLE, Ky. —
As of Wednesday afternoon, 176 people have been arrested in connection to protests and burglaries following the death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, but with COVID-19 slowing down much of our court system, how are people navigating a fair trial?
This year's Kentucky High School Teacher of the Year, Matt Kaufmann, participated in demonstrations calling for police accountability with his students on May 31.
“And it was absolutely peaceful, and it was hopeful, and it was beautiful," Kaufmann said.
But he said when police in riot gear showed up with tear gas, flash bombs, and rubber bullets, the situation changed.
“Eyes were burning, lungs were burning," he said.
Soon after, he was arrested.
“We were thrown to the ground, our faces pushed into the cement," said Kaufmann.
Kaufmann was then thrown into jail. He was charged with a misdemeanor, while he said his African American student, who was with him during the entire protest, suffered harsher consequences for no reason.
“They charged her with three misdemeanors," he said.
He and many of his students had their bails paid by The Bail Project, a national nonprofit providing free bail assistance for protesters who are arrested.
Now, he's navigating our court system, which attorneys told us is facing an already mounting backlog of cases due to COVID-19.
“It does look different," said Angela McCormick Bisig, Jefferson Circuit Court Chief Judge.
While judges like Bisig are still working in the building, she said 700 West Jefferson Street in Louisville has been eerily quiet for nearly three months. Chairs are blocked off, and signs remind everyone of social distancing.
“We’re holding hearings via Skype and via Zoom," Bisig said.
But Kentucky courts are still up and running, with criminal cases open to the public. Her advice to protesters who have been arrested and others navigating the system? Stay in contact with your lawyer and on top of court appearances. Provide information to your lawyer, like cell phone videos and photos, that may be helpful with your case.
Kaufmann said he can’t wait to tell the court what he went through.
“I would love a fair and open trial, I think everything needs to be brought to light," he said.
Kaufmann said all protesters should write the name and number of a lawyer on their arm, in case they're arrested and their belongings are taken away from them. That information, and other resources, can be found on Black Lives Matter Louisville's site.
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