austonia newsletter
Most viewed
At least two protests are planned in Austin this weekend over the recent killings of black men by police: Mike Ramos, who was fatally shot by an Austin Police Department officer on April 24 in Southeast Austin, and George Floyd, who died in police custody on Monday after a Minneapolis Police Department officer knelt on his neck. Both events were filmed.
Floyd's death—along with those of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT in Kentucky who was killed by police in March, and Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old who was pursued and shot by two white men while jogging in his Georgia neighborhood in February—has prompted protests in Minneapolis and other cities around the country. Seven people were shot during protests in Louisville last night.
The Mike Ramos Brigade has planned a protest for Saturday afternoon at the APD headquarters downtown. Nearly 2,000 people have expressed interest on the event's Facebook page. The group's members have not identified themselves, but in a call to action posted on social media they listed their demands, including the firing of Chief Brian Manley and the officers who killed Ramos.
"We don't want lip service from politicians who pretend to fight for the interests of black people and give more funding to cops in the same breath," the group wrote in a recent Instagram post. "We want killer cops to be run out, locked up, incapable of ever harming us again."
In a custodial death report filed with Attorney General Ken Paxton's office—as required by state law—APD said the officers involved in Ramos' death were responding to a narcotics call, during which Ramos "became non-compliant and verbally confrontational." One officer, "fearing the male subject intended to use [his car] as a deadly weapon," then shot Ramos with his patrol rifle.
A second protest, organized in collaboration with the Austin Justice Coalition and other community groups, is planned for Sunday at the Capitol. Nearly 500 people have indicated they will attend, with another 1,700 interested. "PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE wear your masks if you have them to ensure everyone's safety," AJC Executive Director Chas Moore wrote in a post on the event's Facebook page.
Chris Harris, director of criminal justice programs at Texas Appleseed and a member of the city's public safety commission, called for a reduction in police budgets and authority in a tweet yesterday. "Police & prisons won't stop Amy Coopers or police killings & aren't the answer," he wrote, referring to the white woman who called police on a black man who asked her to leash her dog in a New York City park earlier this week.
Apparently I need to spell this out. We shouldn't use the very tools that consistently hurt people unjustly to tr… https://t.co/3FivPF0zRR— Chris Harris (@Chris Harris)1590687894.0
Manley called Floyd's death "heart wrenching" and "senseless" in a tweet on Wednesday. "As law enforcement professionals, we must do better in service to our communities!"
This is heart wrenching and we must be better than this or these senseless deaths will continue to occur.… https://t.co/5CrFUu6V02— Chief Brian Manley (@Chief Brian Manley)1590592774.0
In November, Austin City Council ordered two investigations into APD after an anonymous complaint alleged racism, sexism and homophobia among the top ranks. The initial investigation, the findings of which were released last month, did not confirm any specific allegations. But Lisa Tatum, the San Antonio lawyer tasked with the job, wrote in her report that "issues of race lie just below the surface."
- Protestors shut down I-35, Austin police respond with tear gas and rubber bullets over two days of protest against police killings - austonia ›
- Grand jury in Ramos case delayed by pandemic concerns - austonia ›
- Austin City Council issues call to action over police violence - austonia ›
- 'No question' that violent extremists were part of weekend protests in Texas cities, officials say - austonia ›
- Austin City Council issues call to action over police violence - austonia ›
- 'No question' that violent extremists were part of weekend protests in Texas cities, state says - austonia ›
- Austin activists see moment to strike on defunding APD - austonia ›
- Protesters injured by Austin police bean bag rounds - austonia ›
- Protesters injured by Austin police bean bag rounds - austonia ›
- 'This is a national issue’: Reckoning with police brutality and race arrives in Austin’s affluent suburbs - austonia ›
- Austin police will no longer use 'less lethal' bean bag ammunition at protests - austonia ›
- Protests in Austin suburbs bring reckoning on police brutality - austonia ›
- Austin police arrest antifa members after Target looting - austonia ›
- Austin police arrest antifa members after Target looting - austonia ›
- JUST America wants now wants Austin Police Chief Manley gone - austonia ›
- City delays release of video in police killing of Mike Ramos, citing APD policy violation - austonia ›
- City delays release of video in police killing of Mike Ramos, citing APD policy violation - austonia ›
- Video fires up effort to remove APD police chief after protests - austonia ›
- Austin braces for election-week unrest - austonia ›
- Austin police prepare for election-week protests - austonia ›
- Election protests could test new Austin police policies - austonia ›
- Austin murder total hits 10-year high in 2020 - austonia ›
- Armed protesters gather at state Capitol over the weekend - austonia ›
Popular
On Barton Springs and S. Lamar, workers dug deep to fix the issue in the road this week. (Laura Figi/Austonia)
As Austin's "icepocalypse" melts into the rearview mirror, though day-to-day life has mostly resumed, the city has a long, arduous recovery process ahead. It seems as though no area was immune to the damage inflicted by the historic winter storm.
- It's snowing! Here's what that looks like in Austin - austonia ›
- Photos: Winter storm brings power outages, snow to Austin - austonia ›
- Snow day: power outages, icy roads and school closures - austonia ›
Emojis Grilled Cheese Bar owner Hope Green.
After the devastating blow of the pandemic, Emojis Grilled Cheese Bar owner Hope Green saw a surge in sales last summer. The outpouring of community support for Black-owned businesses came in the wake of the killing of George Floyd and nationwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice. But for Emojis the support has been fleeting.
- Restaurant industry on the brink in Austin and nationally - austonia ›
- Austin restaurants and businesses struggle due to COVID-19 ... ›
- Austin black-owned restaurants see support after protests - austonia ›
Pearl Lantana Apartments is one of many apartment complexes around town without running water due to plumbing issues. (Laura Figi/Austonia)
The last night Stephanie Landgraf, 25, spent in her apartment, off of Rundberg Lane, was on Valentine's Day. First, her power went off, only to return shortly after the complex lost water. Since then, she's been staying with friends. "There's no end in sight," she told Austonia. "At this point, I'm just angry."
- As reservoirs begin to refill, two zones regain water supply - austonia ›
- Austin faces 'multi-day' water crisis after winter weather - austonia ›
- Water distribution plan continues as Austin Water works to restore ... ›