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Juneteenth 2020 – Wake Up, Mitch! Justice for Breonna Taylor

Sunrise activists occupy the street as they march towards Mitch McConnell's KY house as the sun is rising. They're holding a large sign saying "Breonna Couldn't Sleep. Neither Should Mitch".

In the early dawn light of Juneteenth, a group of brave people from stood outside Mitch McConnell’s house in Kentucky to put him on notice. They sang. They shouted. They banged pots and pans. They held up signs and stood stoic. Tensions were high. It’s not a joke to show up on the doorstep of a major politician like Mitch McConnell — not when cops are disappearing people off the streets in places like Portland when they don’t like what they see. Sunrisers demanded that Mitch McConnell “wake up” and start serving the people of Kentucky, starting with demanding justice for Breonna Taylor. If Breonna Taylor couldn’t sleep, why should Mitch?

This idea was inspired by the Wide Awakes, pre-civil war abolitionist movement of 100,000-500,000 young people demanding urgent action on slavery. The Republican establishment complained of these “infant politicians” who wanted to move too fast, whose ranks were made of “the mechanic, the laborer, or the clerk” instead of “the intelligent classes.” However, the Wide Awakes were vital in boosting youth turnout in the election and securing Republicans the majority they needed to pursue the abolition of slavery and a visionary Reconstruction.

A Sunrise activist speaks into a megaphone while fellow protesters stand behind holding signs saying "No Justice No Sleep" and "Look Us In The Eyes".
© Michael Clevenger/ Courier Journal
Sunrise activists demonstrate in front of Mitch McConnell's KY house, holding a large sign saying "Breonna Couldn't Sleep. Neither Should Mitch".
© Michael Clevenger/ Courier Journal
Sunrise activists demonstrate in front of Mitch McConnell's KY house, holding a large sign saying "Breonna Couldn't Sleep. Neither Should Mitch".
© Michael Clevenger/ Courier Journal
Sunrise activists line the sidewalk of Mitch McConnell's KY house, holding a large sign saying "Breonna Couldn't Sleep. Neither Should Mitch".
© Michael Clevenger/ Courier Journal
Sunrise activists fill the sidewalk in front of Mitch McConnell's KY house, holding a large sign saying "Breonna Couldn't Sleep. Neither Should Mitch".
© Michael Clevenger/ Courier Journal
Sunrise activists march down the street towards Mitch McConnell's KY house as the sun is rising. They're holding a large sign saying "Breonna Couldn't Sleep. Neither Should Mitch".
© Michael Clevenger/ Courier Journal
A Sunrise activist speaks into a megaphone.
© Michael Clevenger/ Courier Journal
Protesters hold signs saying "No Justice No Sleep", and "Look Us In The Eyes".
© Michael Clevenger/ Courier Journal
Sunrise activists demonstrate in front of Mitch McConnell's KY house, holding a large sign saying "Breonna Couldn't Sleep. Neither Should Mitch".
© Michael Clevenger/ Courier Journal
Sunrise activists march down the sidewalk towards Mitch McConnell's KY house as the sun is rising. They're holding a large sign saying "Breonna Couldn't Sleep. Neither Should Mitch".
© Michael Clevenger/ Courier Journal
Sunrise activists occupy the street as they march towards Mitch McConnell's KY house as the sun is rising. They're holding a large sign saying "Breonna Couldn't Sleep. Neither Should Mitch".
© Michael Clevenger/ Courier Journal
A Sunrise activist speaks into a megaphone while fellow protesters stand in front of Mitch McConnell's KY house holding a large sign saying "Breonna Couldn't Sleep. Neither Should Mitch".
© Michael Clevenger/ Courier Journal
A Sunrise activist speaks into a megaphone while fellow protesters stand behind with signs.
© Michael Clevenger/ Courier Journal
A Sunrise activist speaks into a megaphone while fellow protesters stand in support.
© Michael Clevenger/ Courier Journal
A Sunrise activist speaks into a megaphone while fellow protesters stand in front of Mitch McConnell's KY house holding a large sign saying "Breonna Couldn't Sleep. Neither Should Mitch".
© Michael Clevenger/ Courier Journal
A Sunrise activist speaks into a megaphone while fellow protesters stand in front of Mitch McConnell's KY house holding a large sign saying "Breonna Couldn't Sleep. Neither Should Mitch".
© Michael Clevenger/ Courier Journal

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