"We don't have the shootings, rapes, robberies, purse snatching, indecent exposure, lewdness that occurs with cruising. That doesn't occur on Bardstown Road or any other place." -- Chief Robert White defending the decision to ban derby cruising
As Derby fever spreads across Louisville, one community isn't happy and says they are being shut out because of the color of their skin.
Police are citing safety as a reason for closing West Broadway to cruising during Derby weekend, but local residents say it's killing business and claim it's racial profiling.
"It seems like it's racial profiling simply because of the facts," said Marilyn Bland, who owns Lee's Famous Recipe in the 2100 block of Broadway. "You know, it's not how I feel, it's the facts."
Bland, who has owned the restaurant for about 25 years, says closing West Broadway in 2006 cost her thousands of dollars last year.
"Twenty-four dollars made for the entire weekend and that's a real big weekend for us," Bland said.
Bland says in the past, when Broadway was open to cruising, she has made as much as $4,000 to $5,000 per day.
This year, community activists have banned together to protest the shutdown. They have filed a federal lawsuit, and on Friday they held a press conference, saying that closing West Broadway to traffic amounts to a "lockdown."
"I think this is the one opportunity for black businesses, it's like their Christmas," said Gracie Lewis, co-chair of the Black Caucus. "It's like when they break even. We're talking $90 to $100 million, and I think that's the real issue, that we're being in lockdown."
The word lockdown is used to mean customers aren't coming in or out. Under the current rules, throughout the Derby weekend, people who live in the area need to show a permit to even be there. Permits can be picked up ahead of time or from police stationed in the area."The people in the east end in Shelbyville Road and Saint Matthews don't have to have a pass," said Nancy Demantra of the Kentucky Alliance. "Bardstown Road gets so congested that even walking, you have a problem crossing the street and there is never a lockdown. This is a racist act."Police insist it's for purely for safety reasons. In 2005, one person was shot to death and another was wounded during post-Derby cruising on Broadway.
Commenting on Demantra's comparison between Broadway cruising and other congested areas of town, Chief Robert White had this to say: "We don't have the shootings, rapes, robberies, purse snatching, indecent exposure, lewdness that occurs with cruising. That doesn't occur on Bardstown Road or any other place."
Chief White has assured some local business owners personally that people will be able to be in the area and Lee's will stay open.
"Chief White personally told me that this year was going to be different," Bland said. "This year, they were still going to have the police officers. They still were not going to allow full cruising, but people would be able to get on Broadway, and you know, I can't ask for anything more than that."
The presiding judge in the federal lawsuit is expected to make a ruling on Monday. One possible compromise discussed is to make all traffic one-way, but Chief White said that would defeat the point because you can always cruise one-way.