June 1968, National Guard troops were called in to restore order in Louisville West end after protest of police mistreatment of a black citizen turned violent.
In 1967, Aubespin was hired by The Louisville Courier-Journal, as the news artist. Aubespin was the first african american to earn the position. Prior to working at the Courier-Journal, in 1961 Aubespin marched for integrated public accommodations, in 1968 on 28th Street and Greenwood Avenue. This was the time when police and furious protesters clashed, two african americans died, over 40 arrested, millions of dollar damages and destruction to an important West End area. Aubespin suggested for the newspaper to send someone to Louisville's Westend to cover the riots. The newspaper then asked Aubespin to accompany the white reporter they chose to send. The riots took place shortly after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Aubespin chose to protect his colleague, by telling the journalist to go back to the newspaper office. Instead, Aubespin spent hours reporting the riots himself. Aubespin was promoted to being a reporter and was asked to join the newsroom staff.
Aubespin retired from the Courier-Journal in 2002.
Rioters overturned and burned vehicles during the two weeks of violence in Louisville, 1968.
For two decades Aubespin, as a reporter and editor covered two decades of black experience in Louisville.
Aubespin, co-editor of Two Centuries of Black Louisville: A Photographic History. Butler Books. 2011