UPDATE:
As of noon Monday (6/1) Austin Police Report they have made nearly 30 arrests stemming from last weekend’s protest and riots.
Over the last 24 hours, APD has had to make nearly 30 arrests related to the protests. The charges include burglary of buildings, interference with public duties, theft of property, theft of firearm, graffiti, engaging in organized crime, assault and participating in a riot.
— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) June 1, 2020
ORIGINAL:
It was a volatile and turbulent weekend for parts of Austin. In downtown numerous buildings and businesses were vandalized, broken into and even looted.
Austin Police Chief Brian Manley Told Reporters on a web conference call, told reporters the department with the help of other area law enforcement agencies they were prepared as they could be, “you see major cities around the country with the level of civil unrest and with the riotous behavior that we’re seeing with businesses being looted and fires being set, there is only so much preparation you can do.”
APD Officials posted on social media Sunday afternoon there are at least 19 arrests with charges stemming from blocking a roadway, looting, and Assaulting an officer. Chief Manley reported, his officers saw bottles, fireworks and other objects. Most of the injuries were minor but not all, “we had an officer had an officer who was struck in the face with an object…bottle, that is actually cracked his facemask and he was injured in the face and had to receive stitches.”
Manely said the department was staffed up and did everything they could do to give space to those who wanna do what the weekend was supposed to be about, peacefully speak their minds about things that are very concerning. However he added he saw the weekend be used by some as a shield for criminal activity, looting, and more.
The Police Chief isn’t the only one saying the protests were used. Sunday the Austin Justice Coalition said it was cancelling their planned rally for that afternoon. The AJC’s Chas Moore took to facebook and explained he saw the rally that was kicked off by the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the local officer involved shooting of Mike Ramos and more, but he saw the movement hijacked by white people and other peoples of color and twisted into something else.
“You are using black pain and fake outrage in the name of Black Lives Matter to go deface property, which we would then get the blame for.” Moore continued, “To those agitators we see you we know who you are, and we’re not going to let you co-opt and colonize this movement like you’ve done everything else.”
Moore said he could not in good conscience commit the AJC to the Sunday rally as it could not guarantee the safety of black lives or their ability to communicate a clear message. Instead he added, the coalition will find another way for the black community to have their say later on.
