Faith-based group urges Louisville officials to fight violence. Police chief fails to show.

Citizens of Louisville Organized and United Together brought together various local leaders, clergy and mayoral candidates at its annual assembly Monday night to push officials to more urgently fight gun violence in the city and improve relationships between police and residents.

During its Nehemiah Action Assembly at St. John Paul II Parish, 3521 Goldsmith Lane, CLOUT sought commitments from Mayor Greg Fischer; Louisville Metro Police Chief Erika Shields; and Metro Council President David James, D-6th District; to launch the “Truth and Transformation” initiative within the next month. 

Only James was present Monday to give his commitment to CLOUT, which said it had about 180 attend its assembly in person and roughly 1,000 tune in via Zoom.

"What we have gotten from the police chief's office is no response. … All we have been told is she can't come," Rev. Reginald Barnes, with Brown Memorial CME Church, told the audience.