Activists Call for Congressional Help in Battle with Louisville Police

Civil rights activists, outraged by a white police detective's acquittal in a black teenager's death, have asked congressional black leaders to look into race relations.  The activists also threatened demonstrations that would fill jail cells with protesters if the police officer, McKenzie Mattingly, successfully appeals his firing by the city's police chief. The city remained calm after Mattingly was cleared Wednesday night of murder, manslaughter and reckless homicide charges by a Jefferson County Circuit Court jury consisting of 10 whites and two blacks. Mattingly, 31, shot 19-year-old Michael Newby three times in the back on Jan. 3 when an undercover drug bust went awry. Activists said they were not surprised by the verdict, but said it demonstrated that the justice system is not colorblind in the city. They accused prosecutors of a halfhearted effort in the case.  The Justice Resource Center, a civil rights group headed by Coleman, prepared a letter for the Congressional Black Caucus requesting hearings delving into race relations in Louisville. [more]

• Mayor, Chief Say Mattingly Won't Be Reinstated; Merit Board Has Final Word [more ]
• Mattingly's Wanton Endangerment Charge Could Be Thrown Out Today. The Jefferson County Commonwealth's Attorney will announce Monday whether he plans to pursue a wanton endangerment charge against former Metro police detective McKenzie Mattingly. A jury cleared Mattingly Wednesday on the most serious charges against him, including murder, in the shooting death of Michael Newby, 19, after an undercover drug deal turned violent. [more ]
• Over the past 7 Years at least 10 Black or Latino Men have been Killed by Louisville Police. No Officers have been Convicted [more]