Thousands of people protested for racial justice in central Austin on Sunday even after organizers announced the cancellation of the event over fears that it would be ‘coopted’ by violent activists and looters.
Explaining why the event was cancelled, Chas Moore of the Austin Justice Coalition, one of the organizers, told a crowd at the Texas Capitol that “a lot of non-black people … have co-opted this particular moment.”
“They have used black pain and black outrage to just completely become anarchists in this moment.”
Despite cancellation notices from Moore’s group and other organizers, thousands marched from the Capitol to City Hall. Marchers were peaceful and chanted for an end to racism and police killings.
Nationwide protests have been sparked by the killing of George Floyd, a Minnesota man who died last week after a police officer knelt on his neck for over eight minutes, according to cell phone footage of the incident and Minnesota prosecutors, who charged the officer with third-degree homicide.
Later in the day the protest shifted to the police headquarters adjoining I-35, the focus of protests the day before. Crowds spilled onto the interstate, shutting it down. Police used tear gas to clear protesters from the highway.
Businesses in parts of town boarded up storefronts for fear of looting, which has occurred during riots in some other cities. There were a few reports of looting in Austin during Sunday’s protests, and looting and widespread vandalism the night before, but no widespread looting.
Austin Police responded to an incident at the Target at Capital Plaza, located a few miles north of the downtown, saying on social media that “there is a large crowd and property damage.” Photos of the Target released by other media, however, show that officers controlled the scene before the boarded-up doors to the front entrance could be breached.
Another incident of “possible looting” occurred at a Macy’s at Lakeline Mall, but no crowds were reported at that location. (Update, 6/1/2020: By Monday morning, there were reports of looting at a World Liquor and Tobacco on East Sixth Street overnight, confirmed by the store owner).
Austin-Travis EMS reported responding to 19 protest-related incidents on Sunday and only eight protest-related incidents Sunday as of 10:00 p.m.
Brenda Ramos, the mother of Mike Ramos, a man killed by an Austin police officer in April during an attempted arrest, said, “I am heartbroken over the terrible murder of George Floyd. I understand the anger. But I am pleading with the community, please do not commit violence in my son Mike’s name.”
‘I Can’t Breathe’
Addressing the crowd at the Texas Capitol, Chase Moore, the event organizer, said the protests weren’t just about police violence but also about broader issues of racism and racial injustice. He asked whites to do the “hard inner work” to address racism.
“What are y’all doing to make sure black people can do the one thing that we only want to do: exist, and be, and breathe?”
Using signs and chants, protesters have drawn attention to the fact that George Floyd, prior to his death, repeatedly pleaded for air. The Minneapolis officer ignored him and continue to kneel on his neck. Protesters’ chants of “I can’t breathe” also recall the 2014 death of Eric Garner, who died in a chokehold at the hands of New York police.
Moore, who is also an advocate of de-policing, urged listeners to “close your eyes and imagine a world without police… and as you’re thinking about that, what does that world look like? How do we get to that world?”
The activist said that if there were better social services and systems there wouldn’t be a need to commit crimes and people wouldn’t have to go to jail.
Political Leaders Respond to Austin Protests
Few local political leaders joined the weekend protests in Austin, though some expressed support for the protesters and their aims.
Mayor Adler said in a television interview, “It is a good and powerful thing to be able to demonstrate and that’s a good thing. I expect our law enforcement to continue to show restraint.”
City Council Member Jimmy Flannigan released a statement that criticized the Austin Police Department. He said, “Within APD, I know there are Good Cops who do speak up. But they do not get heard inside a department aligned with a national police culture that seems to be more intent on self-protection of an institution rather than listening to the community.”
State Representative Eddie Rodriguez and five other legislators stated, “The long history of systemic racism and brutality in American law enforcement systems require immediate and significant reform and accountability.”
“We do not condone any violence, including police violence… We are devastated by the destruction of businesses struggling in the midst of a crisis to serve their communities, particularly by those outsiders who only seek to cause division and mayhem.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbot activated the Texas National Guard, saying, “Texans have every right to exercise their first amendment rights, but violence and looting will not be tolerated.”
