WASHINGTON D.C. – Popular conservative commentator, bestselling author, and practicing lawyer Mark Levin lit a match that fired up the internet on Thursday.
Commenting on news that two Louisville, KY police officers were shot during Wednesday’s Breonna Taylor demonstrations, Levin shared some strong feelings about the violence and political unrest.
Sensing a shared frustration among Americans over politically motivated violence and destruction, Levin expressed the sentiment that tolerance for this behavior is wearing thin, and may soon run out.
His full quote, shared and interacted with by thousands on social media, was as follows:
“I don’t know how much longer Americans are going to put up with this s—… I just don’t know how much longer. These police are there for us to protect us.
And you see how BLM is celebrated, Antifa’s celebrated. You see, the lies that are told about police officers and police incidents. I pray to God Donald Trump is re-elected.
And I pray to God that he uses the Insurrection Act and puts this down because our country is being destroyed street by street, neighborhood by neighborhood, city by city, state by state.
And I’m sure I speak for the vast majority of Americans regardless of race, religion, background. But we are sick and tired of this, sick and tired of it, period.”
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) September 24, 2020
Levin is referring to the Insurrection Act of 1807, signed into law by President Thomas Jefferson. The initial bill was authored by Congress specifically upon President Jefferson’s request, and empowers the President to deploy federal troops against insurrection, rebellion, and any sort of unrest that raises the threat of anarchy.
President Trump strongly urges that Governors of states where rioting is out of control, call up their state National Guard detachments to quell such activity currently.
He has not yet offered to send in federal troops yet, but has deployed agents from several federal agencies to protect federal property against rioting in various cities.
The Verdict
Earlier on Wednesday, a Grand Jury assembled in Jefferson County indicted former Louisville Police Department Detective Brett Hankison with three counts of Wanton Endangerment.
The felony charge was issued because of three bullets fired from Hankison’s gun that entered a neighboring apartment during the raid on Breonna Taylor’s home, according to an FBI Ballistics Report. The report was received by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who announced the findings.
The home was occupied by a man, pregnant woman, and child at the time of the shootout Taylor’s boyfriend Kenneth Walker initiated (while they were standing together in the hallway).
Walker fired the first shot, striking Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly in the leg. Officer Myles Cosgrove was beside Sgt. Mattingly in the doorway of the apartment. The officers responded with 32 rounds fired into the apartment. 16 rounds were fired by Cosgrove, 10 rounds were fired by Hankison, and 6 rounds were fired by Mattingly.
It was one of Cosgrove’s bullets that killed Taylor, who Cameron said had been hit by a total of six bullets.
According to transcripts of monitored prison phone calls, compiled in an exhaustive investigative report obtained by Tatum Report, Walker apparently ducked out of the hallway (where he initially stood with Taylor) after firing upon officers.
He left Taylor standing in the hallway to take bullets that were intended for him. Her brain matter was allegedly on his clothes when he was being processed for jail. While in custody, Walker admitted that he fired first.
There were no charges handed down to Hankison, nor the other two officers on the scene, related to Taylor’s death.
Cameron, during a press conference, stated:
“The loss of Ms. Breonna Taylor’s life is a tragedy, and our office has worked tirelessly since receiving the case in mid-May to review all of the evidence in preparation for presenting it to an independent Grand Jury.
The Grand Jury determined that there is no evidence to support a criminal violation of state law caused Ms. Taylor’s death.
The Grand Jury found that there was sufficient evidence to indict Detective Hankison for wanton endangerment for firing his weapon outside a sliding glass door and through a bedroom window, with some bullets traveling through that apartment and entering the apartment next door while three residents were at home.”
Cameron’s remarks can be read in their entirety here.
Sgt. Mattingly’s email to LMPD
WHAS in Louisville obtained an email that Mattingly sent to his fellow officers ahead of the backlash he anticipated would occur after the Grand Jury made its decision.
In the email, shown below, Sgt. Mattingly apologized for what all of them have to endure, specifically pertaining to violent demonstrators and a lack of support from higher up.
He expressed frustration with the aforementioned, and also reaffirmed his strong belief that he and his fellow officers acted legally, ethically, and justifiably in their serving of the warrant at Taylor’s home.
He added:
“It’s sad how the good guys are demonized, and criminals are canonized.”
Sgt. Jon Mattingly’s email to LMPD. From Twitter. Page1 
Sgt. Jon Mattingly’s email to LMPD. From Twitter. Page2 
Sgt. Jon Mattingly’s email to LMPD. From Twitter. Page3 
Sgt. Jon Mattingly’s email to LMPD. From Twitter. Page4
The Demonstrations
Demonstrators took to the streets almost immediately upon hearing of the verdict. They began walking down Bardstown Road (and other streets), to what appeared to be a pre-planned gathering point at Jefferson Square Park.
We just got to Jefferson square park where state police are lined up right next to city hall on Congress. Protesters are making their way back to the park and some are just across the street from this line @WHAS11 #nightteam #BreonnaTaylor pic.twitter.com/isiftqKN8R
— Jessie Cohen (@jessiecohennews) September 23, 2020
Vandals among the demonstrators broke windows in several businesses along the road, on the way to the park.
This is the second business that had a window busted during the #BreonnaTaylor protest on Bardstown Road today pic.twitter.com/Prk9emFEpK
— Shay McAlister (@ShayMcAlisterTV) September 23, 2020
The two officers shot during the first night of post-verdict rioting, Major Aubrey Gregory, and Officer Robinson Desroches, are both reported to be in stable condition. Interim Louisville Metro Police Chief Robert Schroeder announced that both officers sustained non-life threatening injuries, though Desroches’ injuries required surgery to repair. The shooting suspect is in custody.
Chief Schroeder also announced earlier in September, that he would be retiring on October 1 to focus on his health and his family. He also intends to pursue a doctorate degree.
Maj. Aubrey Gregory (left) and Ofc. Robinson Desroches are the two policemen who were shot last night. Gregory was shot in the hip, and Desroches was shot in the abdomen and needed surgery. Chief Schroeder describes both injuries as non life threatening. @WHAS11 #BreonnaTaylor pic.twitter.com/KyYdZsQK35
— 😷 Hayley Minogue (@HayleyMinogueTV) September 24, 2020
The all too familiar anarchist signs calling for the abolishment of police made their customary appearance during demonstrations.
The large group of protestors are marching into the Highlands. @WHAS11 pic.twitter.com/l8dzzGIulL
— Dennis J. Ting (@DennisJTing) September 23, 2020
Some rioters decided to begin setting shrubbery on fire as night fell in the city. Demonstrations continued in Louisville for a second straight night on Thursday night.
Bushes have been set on fire at Muhammad Ali and 6th a large group of protesters is making their way towards broadway @WHAS11 #nightteam #BreonnaTaylor pic.twitter.com/lfJdrbnZOu
— Jessie Cohen (@jessiecohennews) September 24, 2020
drone footage of communists pointing guns at drivers at previous Breonna Taylor ‘protest’ pic.twitter.com/6apZ0NYDlm
— 𝐿𝓊𝒸𝒾𝒹 𝐻𝓊𝓇𝓇𝒾𝒸𝒶𝓃𝑒 #FightBack (@CommiesLmao) September 22, 2020
President Trump has been monitoring the situation, and has reached out to Governor Andy Beshear about the situation.
Praying for the two police officers that were shot tonight in Louisville, Kentucky. The Federal Government stands behind you and is ready to help. Spoke to @GovAndyBeshear and we are prepared to work together, immediately upon request!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2020
It remains to be seen whether the help President Trump stands ready to offer, is help from federal agencies, or something more along the lines of what Levin suggests.
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