LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton (R) wants to see changes in racial equality in her city.  

What You Need To Know


  • Lexington mayor establishes new citizens group.

  • Group will address racial inequality

  • Moratorium on no-knock warrants

She has created a new citizens group to help oversee those changes. 

For the past two weeks, Gorton has listened to protesters, spoken to councilmembers, and Chief of Police Lawrence Weathers and others. She believes the new group will help the city move forward.

One action Gorton wasted no time in enforcing is the immediate moratorium on no-knock warrants except in life-and-death cases. No-knock warrants are rarely used in Lexington, but following the March 13 shooting death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, concern over the use of such warrants was elevated. No-knock warrants in Lexington have always required a judge's signature. Gorton implemented the moratorium after consulting with Chief Weathers. 

The co-chairs of the new group are Roszalyn Akins, Executive Director of BMW Academy, and Dr. Gerald Smith a University of Kentucky History professor and Pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church. 

“Everyone is impatient for change, including me,” Gorton said. “While I understand change won’t happen overnight, I am determined to make many improvements quickly and to continue to make immediate changes as opportunities present themselves. We need long-term, systemic change.”

The group will include citizens, representatives of the courts, faith leaders, the Urban County Council, and others. Akins and Smith will have a hand in naming the group and adding members. 

Issues Gorton would like to see addressed include health disparities, economic and educational opportunities, and justice issues. 

“Lexington is a city that strives to be safe and inclusive for everyone,” Gorton said. “But that doesn’t mean we are perfect. We know we have work to do.”