Trump-supporting armed militia clash with Breonna Taylor protesters as Kentucky Derby gets underway

Activists said they would use Derby Day, Louisville's biggest event of the year, to protest officials' handling of Ms Taylor's case

Armed militia members carried semi-automatic guns when interacting with Breonna Taylor protesters (REUTERS)

A group of armed, pro-Trump supporters have clashed with Breonna Taylor protesters on Kentucky Derby day in Louisville.

A Black Lives Matter demonstration to honour the life of Ms Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman who was fatally shot in her home by Louisville police, gathered on Saturday afternoon outside Churchill Downs – where the 146th annual horse race was getting underway.

Protests have been ongoing in Louisville for months amid growing calls for the city to charge the officers involved in the shooting. Ms Taylor, an emergency medical technician, was killed by police on 13 March during a "no-knock" warrant raid at her apartment.

A number of social justice groups said they would use Derby Day, the city's biggest event of the year, to protest officials' handling of Ms Taylor's case.

As anti-racism demonstrators reached Jefferson Square Park on Saturday afternoon, they were met with hundreds of armed militia members brandishing "Make America Great Again" and other pro-Trump signs.

Video and pictures showed the two different groups clashing in the middle of Louisville.

The confrontation appeared tense but remained mostly peaceful, according to local reports. Police swiftly descended upon the scene in riot gear to break up skirmishes.

The local chapter for Democratic Socialists of America claimed that the armed militias showed up specifically "to threaten" protesters who were gathering to call for justice for Ms Taylor.

Self-described "patriots" and armed militia members carrying semi-automatic weapons told local news stations that they were in Louisville to protect the city against protestors.

At a separate location, NFAC, a black militia group, also gathered with guns. But this militia group was reportedly joining demonstrators to protest the police shooting of Ms Taylor.

It is legal in Kentucky to openly carry a firearm in public.

The Louisville police said it would work to allow for protesters to express their First Amendment freedoms while preventing any violence.

"We are prepared for others to express their First Amendment rights. We don't know how large these crowds will be, but we do intend to not intervene with lawful protests that are not violent," Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief LaVita Chavous said.

The Kentucky Derby was initially supposed to take place in May, but the annual horse race was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.