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An armed group of “far-right militias” clashed with Black Lives Matter protesters in Louisville, Kentucky, as anti-racism protests reached their fourth month in the warring nation.
The heavily armed pro-Donald Trump group was photographed shoving guns into the faces of BLM activists amid tense scenes.
The city of Louisville was experiencing large crowds due to the Kentucky Derby, a popular horse race that had been delayed since May due to the coronavirus, prompting protesters and counter-protesters to come out in force.
The Black Lives Matter protests, which have been going on for more than 100 consecutive days in the United States, were initially sparked by the death of black man George Floyd while being arrested by a white police officer.
However, activists in Louisville protested with new fervor yesterday as it is the hometown of Breonna Taylor, a black medical technician who was shot and killed in her apartment by Louisville Metro Police Department officers in March in a raid. failed.
The protesters decided to use the Kentucky Derby as an opportunity to demand justice for Breonna, but the anti-BLM militia group had other ideas.
Hundreds of far-right activists dressed in combat gear, waving American flags and Trump 2020 posters, and armed with semi-automatic weapons clashed with protesters in downtown Louisville.
The pro-Trump and pro-police protesters call themselves “The Angry Vikings” and sell themselves as a militia group, vowing to defend the city from BLM activists.
The so-called “patriots” cleared a park full of BLM protesters and were filmed chanting “USA, USA.”
The scenes are reminiscent of suspected teenage shooter Kyle Rittenhouse who took to the streets with his rifle, resulting in the deaths of two protesters.
Some protesters were also concerned about what would happen if a heavily armed far-left group appeared, such as the self-described black armed militia, NFAC and Hasta la Libertad, which were among the left-wing groups planning demonstrations on Derby Day. .
In less than an hour, police officers in riot gear came to a standstill and cleared the park completely.
However, police warned that they anticipate more protests and remain on high alert.
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