[Item 7 (Part 1 of 2)]
[00:00:08]
OKAY.UH, THE TIME IS, UH, UH, THREE OH FOUR.
I AM RECONVENING THE CITY CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
I AM ALSO CONVENING CONCURRENTLY.
HE A CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL CALLED MEETING THAT'S FOR THREE O'CLOCK, UH, ON THIS SAME, UH, SAME DAY.
WE HAVE A, UH, A QUORUM COUNCIL MEMBER FOR MADISON.
ARE YOU HERE? COUNCIL MEMBER MARIA IS HERE AT CAMPUS ORCA STARS HERE.
SO YOUR KITCHEN, UH, AIR COUNCILOR FLYING AGAIN, UH, IS COUNCILOR POOL IS HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS IS HERE A COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO IS HERE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
UH, SO WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED.
BEFORE WE START WITH THE MAYOR, BEFORE YOU START, COULD YOU SAY THAT COUNCIL UNDER HYPER MADISON IS, OR IS NOT? I DO NOT SEE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON YET.
I WOULD ASK THAT WE WAIT TWO MINUTES OR THREE TO TEXT HER AND OKAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER MEDICINE.
UM, BEFORE WE BEGAN, I NOTE THAT THE, UH, UM, MEMORIAL IN MINNEAPOLIS, UH, HAS JUST BEGUN OR, UH, FOR, FOR GEORGE LLOYD.
AND AS WE BEGIN OUR MEETING HERE, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT, UH, AS WE'RE ADDRESSING ISSUES RELATED, UH, RACIAL EQUITY, UH, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UH, GEORGE FORD IS BEING MEMORIALIZED TODAY NOW IN MINNEAPOLIS, IN THE CHAOS AND, UH, EMOTION OF LAST WEEK, UH, AND THE IMPORTANT WORK TO COME, UH, I'D LIKE US ALL TO JUST STOP FOR A BEAT AND REFLECT ON THIS MAN, UH, BEING THE FATHER WHO WAS LOST FOR YOU.
JUST TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
I, IN MEMORY OF HIS LIFE, THAT OUR WORK HERE CAN BE, UH, IN PART ATTRIBUTED TO HIM ALSO TO HAVE IN OUR THOUGHTS, THE FAMILIES OF MIKE RAMOS AND THE PEOPLE WHO RE-INJURED THIS WEEKEND.
UM, WE HAVE TWO ITEMS IN FRONT OF US.
WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, WHICH IS SLATED FOR ACTION.
UM, DOES ANYBODY NEEDS TO DISCUSS ITEM NUMBER SEVEN OR CAN WE PASS THAT STEP? GETTING GRANT FUNDING AND MOVE ON OR MOTION TO APPROVE THE GRANT FUNDING AND ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, COUNSELOR POOL MAKES THE MOTIONS FOR A SECOND.
THAT'S MY RIGHT TO REASSESS DISCUSSION.
THERE ARE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.
WOULD WE BE HAVING AN ISSUE, NOT HEARING THOSE SPEAKERS BEFORE WE HOPE WE COULD.
I WAS MAKING PROPER, PERHAPS THE WRONG ASSUMPTION THAT PEOPLE WERE SIGNING UP THERE BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE OTHER ITEM.
UM, BUT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND HOLD OFF.
LET'S REMEMBER TO TAKE ACTION ON THAT ITEM BEFORE WE LEAVE TONIGHT SO THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING ANY ACTION TOMORROW.
UH, SO IF YOU ALL WOULD HELP ME REMEMBER TO DO THAT, I WOULD, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, ALTHOUGH I THINK IT IS, UH, IT, IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT.
MINE IT'S ACCEPTING GRANT MONEY IS ACCEPTING GRANT MONEY.
UM, SO COULD STAFF EXPLAIN WHAT SEVEN IS MANAGERS? THERE'S SOMEONE HERE THAT COULD EXPLAIN THAT, OR NUMBER SEVEN ACM ARIANO CAN CHIME IN AS WELL, BUT THIS IS, THIS IS JUST ACCEPTING, UH, A GRANT FROM THE TEXAS MOTOR VEHICLE, CRIME PREVENTION, AUTHORITY.
UH, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST AND WE WOULD CONTINUE WITH THIS, BUT, UM, IT'S JUST THE ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT.
YOU SEE MARIANNA, DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING? YOU MAY NOT BE ON?
[00:05:01]
OKAY.WE GET A FURTHER EXPLANATION FROM THAT.
IF A RAY COMES BACK ON THE LINE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY ACTION ON IT NOW.
CAUSE I THINK THAT THE POINT'S WELL TAKEN, THAT THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP AND WE CAN'T BE SURE WHAT THEY WERE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ABOUT.
HI, THIS IS KAREN FITZGERALD WITH APD.
DID YOU WANT ME TO GIVE A SUMMARY? THAT WOULD BE GOOD.
SO WE'RE REQUESTING A RESOLUTION.
THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW APD TO BUY FOR $430,685 AND CONTINUATION GRANT FUNDING FROM A STATE AGENCY, THE MOTOR VEHICLE CRIME PREVENTION AUTHORITY.
THE FOCUS OF THE GRANT IS MOTOR VEHICLE FOR CLERY, INCLUDING THEFT OF PARTS AND MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT IT'S CONTINUATION PROPOSAL.
SO WE'RE BASICALLY SUBMITTING THE EXACT SAME BUDGET AND NARRATIVE THAT WE DID IN 2019.
ALL FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED FOR FIVE POSITIONS, THREE SWORN TO CIVILIAN SPECIFICALLY THE GRANT WILL FUND 80% OF THE BASE SALARIES OF THREE DETECTIVE POSITIONS AND 100% OF THE BASE SALARIES AND FRINGE BENEFITS FOR AN ADMIN SPECIALIST.
I HAVE THE GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE NEXT FRIDAY, JUNE 12TH.
AND THE REQUEST TO RESOLUTION HAS TO BE ATTACHED TO THE PROPOSAL FOR IT TO BE CONSIDERED VALID I'M UNFORTUNATELY I CHECKED THE GRAND TOUR DOES NOT PROVIDE EXTENSIONS ON THE APPLICATION DEADLINE.
SO IF WE DON'T HAVE THIS RESOLUTION, THEN WE WON'T BE ABLE TO APPLY A PERFORMANCE MEASURES WISE.
THE DETECTIVES, EACH DETECTIVE THAT'S ASSIGNED TO THE GRANT WORKS ABOUT 600 CASES ANNUALLY.
AND WE'VE HAD THIS GRANT SINCE I WANT TO SAY 1997 MAYOR.
YES, THIS IS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ORIGINAL PROGRAM USED TO BE CALLED THE AUTO THEFT PREVENTION ACT.
AND IT DID START BACK IN THE NINETIES.
I WAS WORKING AT TECH STOUT AT THE TIME I HAPPENED TO BE IN THE VEHICLE TITLING AND REGISTRATION DIVISION, AND THIS WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT PROGRAM.
THE FUNDING COMING FROM THE STATE AT THE TIME THAT HELPED, UM, COMBAT, UM, UH, THE LOSS OF CARS, CARS WERE BEING STOLEN AND PARTS WERE BEING PILFERED AND STOLEN ON THE BLACK MARKET.
AND SO FOR THEM, THE PROPERTY OF FOLKS IN OUR STATE WHO OWNED CARS, THEY, UH, TECH START REALLY RELIED ON THIS PROGRAM TO, UM, BE ABLE TO COMBAT THE AUTO THEFT.
UH, I THINK IT'S MORPHED INTO WHAT IT IS NOW CALLED ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT PEOPLE TITLES AND REGISTRATION HAD MOVED OUT OF TEXTILE.
AND NOW IT'S AT SOUND STATE AGENCY.
THIS IS A LONG STANDING PROGRAM, PROBABLY 30 YEARS OLD.
AND, UM, FROM WHAT I CAN GATHER, UM, SINCE WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT IT VERY MUCH, IT IS DOING THE WORK THAT IT WAS INTENDED TO DO.
I WOULD URGE, UM, APPROVAL TO ALLOW OUR STAFF TO, UM, SUBMIT FOR THIS GRANT.
AND THE REASON I'M SUPPORTING THIS IS THAT NOW MY NEIGHBORHOOD HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST, UH, I BELIEVE HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST AUTO THEFT GOING AROUND WHERE YOU'RE SO CLOSE TO AGE 35, AND PEOPLE MIGHT NOT WANT TO BELIEVE THIS, BUT THERE ARE GROUPS OF GANGS OUT THERE THAT THEIR WHOLE PURPOSE IS TO GO OUT AND STEAL VEHICLE AND SELL IT AND BREAK IT DOWN INTO PARTS AND SELL THEM OUT IN THE BLACK MARKET.
SO, YOU KNOW, W WE'RE WE'RE CONSTANTLY ALWAYS GETTING REPORTS OF VEHICLES BEING OUT OF OUR, UH, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HERE OUT OF OUR PROPERTY.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I HAVE SUPPORTED THIS GRANT.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, I'M LUCKY ENOUGH THAT NO ONE WANTS TO STEAL MY VEHICLE, BUT, UH, IF, IF I DID HAVE ONE, I'D BE VERY AFRAID AND WOULD ALWAYS TRY TO KEEP IT INSIDE.
YOU HAVE A LOCK BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE STEALING VEHICLES.
ANY OTHER FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF AT THIS POINT? YES.
UM, IS IT ALL GRANT MONEY OR ARE THERE MATCHING CITY DOLLARS IN THIS PROGRAM? THERE IS THE MATCH.
UM, IT'S ABOUT, I WANT TO SAY 28% OF THE TOTAL PROJECT COSTS AND WE MATCH USING EXISTING CITY PERSONNEL SALARIES.
I'LL JUST ADD, I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR OBVIOUSLY
[00:10:01]
FROM THE SPEAKERS, BUT MMM.THIS IS GOING TO BE AN INCREDIBLY TOUGH DISCUSSION.
WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE, AND PART OF THAT IS CHANGING THE WAY WE'VE DONE THINGS IN THE PAST.
SO, UM, I'LL JUST, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS? WE'LL PICK THIS ITEM UP AT THE END OF THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT.
UM, I'M KIND OF TEETERED WITH SEEING THE VIDEO AND THE, MMM.
CAN'T REMEMBER HARPER, MADISON JUST WANTED TO ECHO DAY HIS CONCERNS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE CLARITY.
SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO, UM, OKAY.
[Item 1 (Part 1 of 2)]
I'LL GIVE EVERYBODY A CHANCE TO TALK.MINUTE OR TWO, UH, THEN WE'LL, UH, RECOGNIZE THE CHIEF TOPEN AND THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH THE SPEAKERS.
UM, SOMEONE ON COUNCIL WANT TO, UH, TO SPEAK IF NO ONE'S GOING TO SPEAK THEN.
LET'S REMEMBER PAUL YOU'RE MUTED.
UM, I'VE ALREADY MADE MY REMARKS OFFICIALLY AT WORK SESSION AND THE STATEMENT THAT I PUT OUT ON MONDAY.
SO I WANT TO USE, UM, MY BRIEF AMOUNT OF TIME TO OFFER FOR THE RECORD COMMENTS FROM TWO DISTRICT SEVEN RESIDENTS THAT I GOT, WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY, AND THEN MAKE ONE LAST POINT BRIEFLY AT THE END.
SO THE FIRST, UM, WRITER WAS, UH, A YOUNG MAN WHO WALKED HIS LETTER TO MY DOOR ON SUNDAY.
UM, AND HE WROTE THIS, THIS IS A LITTLE EXCERPT FROM WHAT HE WROTE YESTERDAY.
I ATTENDED THE PROTEST AT THE CAPITOL BUILDING AND POLICE HEADQUARTERS.
THE EVENTS WERE SCARY AND CONFUSING.
IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT WITH EXTREME VITRIOL DEMONSTRATED BY MANY OF THE PARTIES INVOLVED ON ALL SIDES OF THIS LARGER ISSUE OF POLICING AND CITIZENRY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND HEAR MY CITY OFFICIALS, PARTICULARLY NON LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS, DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO CALL THEM THIS DIRE SITUATION THAT IS ENGULFING OUR POPULACE.
AND THEN I GOT A EMAIL FROM OUR GOOD FRIEND, ROY WHALEY, WHO ISN'T TABLED TO COME SPEAK TO US TODAY.
AND SO THIS IS THE SECOND OF THE TWO THAT I WANTED TO READ FROM ROY WHALEY.
I DIDN'T SIGN UP TO SPEAK TOMORROW.
SO IT'S NOT TO TAKE TIME AWAY FROM OTHERS OF ALL THE THINGS I HAVE TO SAY.
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT, NO MORE BEAN BAGS FIRED IN TO THE CROWDS.
IT'S UNBELIEVABLE THAT ANYONE HAS TO BE TOLD THIS DEAL WITH THE SITUATION, PLEASE, AND THEN GET TO THE REAL WORK NEEDED FOR SOCIAL AND RACIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FOR ALL, MAKE REAL CHANGE, SACRIFICE YOUR CAREERS FOR THIS.
DON'T JUST SAY A BUNCH OF WORDS AND FOLLOW UP WITH WINDOW DRESSING ACTIONS
[00:15:01]
TO DEAL WITH RACISM.WE ALL MUST LOOK INSIDE OURSELVES TO SEE WHERE IT'S LURKING IN BEHIND OUR LIBERAL SELF PERCEPTIONS, NOT BIGOTRY.
I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF YOU ARE BIGOTS, NOR AM I JUST IMPERFECT.
IT'S INEVITABLE BECAUSE OF THE SOCIETY WE ARE RAISED IN AND LIVE IN.
NO MATTER HOW SOME OF US TRY THE BLIND SPOTS ARE STILL THERE.
I DO MY BEST AND PRAY FOR HELP.
WHEREVER IT MAY COME, PLEASE DO THE SAME WITH LOVE, OR AT LEAST AS MUCH AS I CAN MUSTER IN THESE TIMES RIGHT AWAY.
AND SO TO CLOSE, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE SOMETHING I SAID ON TUESDAY, PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING POLICED WHEN THEY SHOULD FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING PROTECTED.
AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THIS POINT.
THE POLICE ARE ONE VERY VISIBLE PART OF THE REFORM WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND WORK ON, BUT I'M COMMITTED TO ROOTING OUT THE INEQUITIES THAT ARE SYSTEM-WIDE.
AND IF WE DO THAT, THEN WE BUILD TRUST AND RESILIENCE IN AUSTIN.
I FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY POLICING DONE, RIGHT? THAT APPROACH HELPS BUILD THE RESILIENCE THAT WE SO NEED, BUT WE MUST BUILD TRUST.
WE DO THAT THROUGH PERSONAL CONNECTIONS.
THAT'S THE BASIS FOR THE PIECE THAT WE ARE ALL SO DESPERATE FOR.
WE HAVE TO STOP THE MILITARIZATION IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S THE CULTURE CHANGE WE DESPERATELY NEED AND FOCUS FIERCELY ON BUILDING RESILIENCE.
YES, MARY, YOU KNOW, GROWING UP HERE IN AUSTIN, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IN THE SIXTIES, 50 SIXTIES AND OTHER RACIAL HATE WERE JUST OUT OPEN THERE.
WASN'T I MEAN, WE LIVED IN A SEGREGATED CITY AND IT WAS WRITTEN ALL OVER THE WALL.
OH, COLORS HERE, COLOR ONLY OVER HERE.
WHEN YOU COULDN'T SIT AT THE COUNTER, HE COULDN'T SIT AT THE FRONT OF THE BUS.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE WAY I GREW UP HERE.
AND THEN IN THE SEVENTIES, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR BROWN COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, I WAS A LITTLE SEVEN YEAR OLD BOY.
OUR EIGHT YEAR OLD CAN REMEMBER HIS EFFECT.
A, HE WENT TO THE LITTLE LOCAL GROCERY STORE RIGHT ACROSS, HE LIVED IN SANTA RITA EVERY RIGHT ACROSS WHERE ONE IN A MILLION IN SANTA RITA.
AND HE WENT INTO THE GROCERY STORE AND STILL ONE LOAF OF BREAD THAT HE WAS HUNGRY AND A POLICE OFFICER SAW HIM RUNNING AND KILLED HIM.
YEAH, THAT WAS A KIND OF, THAT WAS A TIME WHEN THAT WAS IT.
WE WOULD NOT GOING TO TOLERATE.
WE WENT TO THE STREET, WE DEMONSTRATED, WE HAD ANOTHER BOTHER THAT CALLED THE POLICE OFFICER AND HIS, HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH HIS SON AND HE IS ENDED UP GETTING SHOT BY THE POLICE OFFICER.
THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON YEAR AFTER YEAR.
YOU KNOW, I TRIED DOING COMMUNITY POLICING, YOU KNOW, IT WORKED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I TRY TO PROMOTE IT ALL OVER THE CITY.
AND EVERY TIME WE THOUGHT WE GOTTEN, WHEN I GOT ELECTED, I TRIED TO IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY POLICING HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND EVERY TIME WE GOT CLOSE, IT WAS ALWAYS SOMEBODY THAT HAD TO MESS IT UP IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BY SHOOTING SOMEONE OR THROWING THEM OUT OF THE CAR.
I MEAN, WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND IMMEDIATELY ADOPT THE EIGHT POLICIES THAT OBAMA WAS TALKING ABOUT YESTERDAY.
YOU KNOW, THE POLICIES THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT HE ADVOCATED FOR.
AND I'M SURE MAYOR THAT YOU HEARD IT BECAUSE HE REACHED OUT TO ALL THE MAYORS OF ALL THE CITY.
WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT THESE POLICIES.
YOU KNOW, BANDIT, CHUCK COLES, AND THE STRANGULATION HOLES REQUIRED THIS DEESCALATION, YOU KNOW, REQUIRE ONE.
AND BEFORE YOU SHOOT EXHAUST, OTHER MEANS BEFORE YOU SHOOT, YOU KNOW, INTERVENE, DO WE NEED TO INTERVENE, YOU KNOW, BAND SHOOTING AT MOVING VEHICLES.
I MEAN, WE ENDED UP LOSING MICHAEL RAMAT KNOW, AND HE WAS, HE GREW UP IN EAST AUSTIN AND HE WAS A BOXER WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER AND, YOU KNOW, HE BOX IT OR A GYM HERE AT THE SUMMIT.
YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW, REQUIRE YOU.
SO, YOU KNOW, REQUIRE A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO ADOPT A POLICY IMMEDIATELY THAT SHOWED THAT, UH, THE, UH, CITIZENS OF BOSTON THAT WE REALLY ARE CONCERNED.
AND WE REALLY WANT TO, YOU KNOW, ARE WE REALLY GOING TO CHANGE? AND IF WE IMPLEMENT THESE POLICIES IMMEDIATELY, I MEAN THE NEXT DAY, AND THEN COME BACK AND WE'LL WORK ON THE TRAINING PROCESS THAT WAS GOING TO BE NEEDED.
THAT OUR COLLEAGUE, MY COLLEAGUE, UH, UM, NATASHA,
[00:20:02]
YOU KNOW, BROUGHT UP.I MEAN, THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO REALLY START DOING.
YOU KNOW, I I'M SO FAT AND SICK AND TIRED OF, I DEMONSTRATE IT SO MANY TIMES ON OUR STREETS HERE IN AUSTIN, OVER THE POLICE BRUTALITY.
I MEAN, I'M OVER 50 YEARS OF ARCHING HERE.
HOW MANY, HOW MANY YEARS MORE DO I HAVE TO DO TO MARCH TO PROTEST? YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THIS STOP, WE NEED IT TO STOP AND STOP NOW.
THIS WEEKEND REVEAL THE SAD TRUTH.
ONE THAT MANY PEOPLE ALREADY KNEW AND OTHERS UNFORTUNATELY TREAT WITH DENIAL.
WE DISCOVER THAT AUSTIN IS BROKEN FOR YEARS.
THE DIVISIONS IN OUR SOCIETY HAVE GROWN INTO GIANT CANYONS OF DISTRUST AND DESPAIR.
AND WHAT WE WITNESSED THIS WEEKEND IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.
WE SOMETIMES FORGET THAT STONEWALL WAS A RIOT AGAINST UNFAIR AND BRUTAL POLICING LED BY TRANS WOMEN OF COLOR AND COMMEMORATED IN JUNE AND CELEBRATED WITH FESTIVALS AND PARADES.
WE DON'T NEED PARADES RIGHT NOW.
NOW THAT INCLUDES CHANGES IN LEADERSHIP AND CHANGES IN THE BUDGET TONIGHT.
I LISTEN FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES AND FOR AS MANY MEETINGS AND HEARINGS I'LL LISTEN.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I COMMIT TO GETTING THIS WORK DONE WITHOUT DELAY WORK.
THAT INCLUDES DISMANTLING WHITE SUPREMACY AND ALL ITS FORMS. AND IN RESPECT FOR THE LONG LIST OF NAMES, WE MUST SAY LIKE GEORGE FLOYD, TONY MCDADE AND MIKE RAMOS BLACK LIVES MATTER, BUT I CAN'T BREATHE WITHOUT IT FOR THE REST OF MY TIME TO THE COMMUNITY BEING DIRECTLY AFFECTED.
I'VE THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT WHAT I WOULD SAY IN TWO MINUTES AND IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY HARD.
UM, MOST OF MY COMMENTS AND THIS WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TIME I HAVE BEEN IN A ROOM WITH OUR CHIEF, I'LL BE AT VIRTUAL RIGHT NOW AND EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT IN APD LEADERSHIP.
IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME I EXPRESSED TO GROUP THAT I'VE BEEN THAT I WAS AN EARLY SUPPORTER OF CHIEF MANLEY, BUT HAVE BECOME INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTED IN WHAT FELT AND WHAT FEELS LIKE COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR THE REFORM EFFORTS IS COUNCIL HAS CONSISTENTLY TRIED TO IMPLEMENT.
AND IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EXPRESSED TO A GROUP THAT MY FAITH AND OUR POLICE LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN SHAKEN.
I KNOW THAT THESE ARE INCREDIBLY TOUGH TIMES FOR OUR CITY, FOR OUR OFFICERS.
THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY ARE ALWAYS HARD AND POSSIBLY HARDER FOR ME BECAUSE OF MY PUBLIC SAFETY BACKGROUND.
AND BECAUSE OF THE FACT, THERE WERE MEMBERS OF MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY WHO HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AS POLICE OFFICERS, MY FRIEND, MY FAMILY HAS FRIENDS WHO HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL TO SERVE AND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THOSE FRIENDS ARE PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME AND SOME OF THEM ARE BORN AND RAISED.
I KNOW ALL THESE PEOPLE TO BE HONORABLE AND TO BE GREAT AT PUBLIC SERVANTS.
BUT I ALSO KNOW OUR POLICE OFFICERS BEHAVE AS THEY ARE TRAINED TO, AS THEY ARE ALLOWED TO BY THEIR LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE IN AN INCREDIBLY TOUGH POSITION.
IT'S SOMETHING WE UNDERSTAND WHEN WE TAKE THIS JOB, WE ARE RIGHTFULLY EXPECTED BY THE PEOPLE THAT PUTS US IN THESE SEATS TO RESPOND TO COSTS FOR CHANGE.
I TRULY BELIEVE THERE IS A SPACE FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO DEMAND POLICE, ACCOUNTABILITY AND POLICE REFORM WHILE UNDERSTANDING THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT OUR COMMUNITY SO DESPERATELY NEEDS TO HEAR.
NOW MORE THAN THAT, OUR LEADERS ARE LISTENING.
THIS COUNCIL CAN PASS RESOLUTIONS ALL DAY EVERY DAY, BUT THEY MEAN NOTHING.
IF APD LEADERSHIP CONTINUALLY CHOOSES TO IGNORE THAT POLICY DIRECTION, WE MUST PASS IMMEDIATE REFORMS AND WORK ON LARGER INSTITUTIONAL PROBLEMS. BUT WE NEED TO KNOW THAT THESE CALLS FOR CHANGE ARE BEING ANSWERED
[00:25:01]
BY OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.WE MUST LISTEN TO OUR COMMUNITY DEMANDING CHANGE, AND I AM PREPARED TO DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO ENSURE THAT CHANGE.
THERE REALLY IS NO ALTERNATIVE.
WE MAKE SURE I'M UN-MUTED I KNOW THIS IS A DIFFICULT DAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO THIS ISSUE, BUT INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
UM, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN THIS WEEKEND SHOULD NOT BE REFLECTIVE OF AUSTIN, BUT SADLY IT APPARENTLY IS.
IT IS ALSO A SIDE OF AUSTIN THAT IS EXPERIENCED DISPROPORTIONATELY BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF COLOR.
THIS CITY COUNCIL HAS BEGUN WORK TO ADDRESS ALLEGATIONS OF RACISM, HOMOPHOBIA, AND A CULTURE OF OVER-POLICING IN CERTAIN PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WELL UNDER POLICING AND OTHERS, THE TACTICS REFERRED TO AS LESS LETHAL ARE CLEARLY NOT.
NON-LETHAL THREE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL WITH THEIR LIVES FOREVER CHANGED BY THE EVENTS OF THIS WEEKEND.
AND THE SO CALLED BEANBAGS ARE NOT THAT AT ALL, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A GAME WHO IS MAKING THESE CALLS.
WE CLEARLY HAVE SOME OFFICERS STANDING RESPECTFULLY AND OTHERS READY TO SHOOT, AND THEY'RE STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
I STAND WITH OUR COMMUNITY IN ANGER AND DISBELIEF, AND I PROMISE TO BE AN ALLY AND TO AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND IT ABSOLUTELY BIKES MY HEART TO SEE THIS RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
I AM HERE TO LISTEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SEE TODAY AND WHO HAVE EMAILED AND WHO HAVE CALLED US OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS.
AND I ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESSES BEING FOLLOWED OR BROKEN WITHIN THE VERY SAME POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS A COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT ALL IN AUSTIN HAVE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT, RIGHT TO PEACEABLY ASSEMBLE.
WE MUST ENSURE THAT VIOLENCE AGAINST OUR CITIZENS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.
AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO WERE INJURED THIS WEEKEND AND THEIR FAMILIES, I KNEEL WITH YOU BECAUSE BLACK LIVES MATTER.
ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WANTED TO START BY THANKING ALL OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, WHO ARE JOINING US TODAY AT WHAT IS REALLY AN EMOTIONAL AND PIVOTAL TIME IN THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY.
UM, MANY OF, MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW THAT THROUGHOUT THIS LAST SEVERAL DAYS, WE'VE RECEIVED LOTS OF PHONE CALLS.
WE'VE RECEIVED MORE THAN 8,000 EMAILS AT THIS POINT.
AND TODAY WE HAVE MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND TO ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN ANY OF THOSE WAYS IN THIS CONVERSATION.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR REACHING OUT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING YOUR TRUTH, UM, FOR SHARING YOUR, YOUR CONCERNS AND YOUR HOPES AND YOUR IDEAS FOR HOW TOGETHER WE CAN FORGE A MORE, JUST, JUST AN EQUITABLE AUSTIN.
MY HEART, UM, LIKE ALL OF YOURS IS WITH THE GRIEVING FAMILY OF GEORGE LLOYD AND THE FAR TOO MANY WOMEN AND MEN OF COLOR WHO HAVE SUFFERED THE GREATEST INJUSTICE OF A VIOLENT DEATH AT THE HANDS OF POLICE.
AND ALONG WITH, WITH YOU, I'M OUTRAGED AND DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH AND ALSO IN DEMANDING A FULL AND TRANSPARENT INVESTIGATION OF THE DEATH OF MIKE RAMOS HERE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS A FULLER UNDERSTANDING OF THE EVENTS THAT TRANSPIRED OVER THE LAST WEEKEND TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED HERE IN AUSTIN.
I APOLOGIZE THAT YOU WERE INJURED WHEN YOU CAME DOWNTOWN TO BE PRESENT, TO RAISE YOUR VOICE, TO GIVE VOICE TO VALID CONCERNS.
AND I SEND MY DEEPEST WISHES AND MOST SINCERE WISHES FOR A FULL RECOVERY, YOU KNOW, WHILE OUR COMMUNITY IS EXPERIENCING THE SHOCK AND TRAUMA OVER WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED IN OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THOSE ACROSS THE NATION.
THE REALITY IS SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE ALREADY SAID TODAY IS THAT THESE EVENTS HAVE REALLY ONLY JUST SHOWN A LIGHT ON WHAT WAS ALWAYS THERE IN AUSTIN, AS WELL AS IN EVERY COMMUNITY, A DEEP HISTORY OF SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT WE AS A SOCIETY AND I, AS AN INDIVIDUAL, HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE, TO
[00:30:01]
DISMANTLE AND TO ERADICATE.I SUPPORT MEANINGFUL POLICE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM HERE IN AUSTIN, WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING THOSE OFFICERS WHO ARE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY WITH FAIRNESS, COURAGE, AND DIGNITY.
I SUPPORT THE REFORMS THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS CALLED FOR WITH REGARD TO POLICE TRAINING AND PROTOCOL.
AND I KNOW THAT SYSTEMIC RACISM AND INEQUITIES EXIST ACROSS ALL OF OUR SYSTEMS, THOSE SYSTEMS THAT ARE CREATING BARRIERS TO HOUSING, TO HEALTHCARE, TO EDUCATION AND JOBS AND MORE SO FOR THOSE PARTICIPATING IN TODAY'S MEETING, I COMMIT TO YOU TODAY.
AND FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES, I WILL BE PRESENT TO LISTEN AND TO LEARN FROM YOU AND FROM MY COLLEAGUES AND FROM THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN THIS WORK.
UM, AND AS IMPORTANTLY TO JOIN WITH YOU IN MULTIPLE ACTION MEMBER KITCHEN, UM, THANK YOU.
UM, I WANT TO, UM, I WANT TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES AND BE, BE VERY CLEAR TO I'M FREEZING.
SO I WANT TO START BY THANKING THE THOUSANDS OF EMAIL, MY OFFICE, AS WELL AS THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO'VE CALLED TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES WITH US.
UM, AND LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M LISTENING.
I'VE SEEN MANY OF THE VIDEOS AND PHOTOS FROM THE LAST WEEK, AND I HAVE A LOT OF SERIOUS QUESTIONS THAT DEMAND ANSWERS.
IT'S CLEAR THAT AS A CITY AND AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
I WANT TO BE HERE TODAY AND MOVING FORWARD TO LISTEN.
AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY OUR NEXT STEPS FOR ME, I'M APPROACHING THESE ISSUES, NOT ONLY AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, BUT ALSO AS A MOTHER.
I'M THINKING OF THE MOTHERS OF MY GRANDMAS AND GEORGE FLOYD AND THE MOTHERS WHO WORRY EVERY SINGLE DAY, EVERY SINGLE TIME THEIR KID WALKS OUT THEIR DOOR IN OUR COMMUNITY IN OUR COUNTRY, NO PARENT OR CHILD SHOULD HAVE THIS PERVASIVE FEAR WHEN THEY LEAVE THEIR HOME.
WHEN WE HAVE HONEST CONVERSATIONS AND FOLLOW OUR WORDS WITH ACTION.
WE HAVE MANY DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS WITH DECISIONS AHEAD OF US IN THE COMING DAYS, WEEKS AND MONTHS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME AND CARE THAT EACH OF YOU HAVE PUT INTO THE THOUGHTS YOU'RE SHARING WITH US TODAY.
MY HOPE THAT AUSTIN CAN BE A LEADER IN MOVING US FORWARD AS A COUNTRY, WE ARE ALL HERE TO CREATE A COMMUNITY THAT IS FAIR AND JUST WHERE EVERY AUSTINITE CAN FEEL SAFE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY WITH US.
THAT'S, WE'RE CONCERNED THE LAST 24 HOURS, I'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH BRENDA AND I'M MOST LIKE SMALL.
I'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH EDWIN AYALA.
UH,
AND IN THE FIVE YEARS IN THIS JOB, I'LL TELL YOU THAT NEVER GET USED TO THOSE PHONE CALLS.
I'M GLAD THAT WE'LL BE HEARING FROM EDWIN TODAY.
I THANK GOD THAT LEVI IS ALIVE AND JUST IN HOWL IS ALIVE AND OTHERS, UM, HAVE, HAVE SURVIVED, BUT MANY HAVE SUFFERED REAL, REAL HARM.
MIKE RAMOS SHOULD BE ALIVE TOO.
THAT'S WHY PEOPLE ARE OUT PROTESTING.
PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO BE OUT PROTESTING IN A PANDEMIC IT'S THAT PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO SO THAT OUR GOVERNMENT WILL RESPOND.
AND IT'S UP TO US NOW TO RESPOND.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE NOW NOT ONLY HAVE TO RESPOND TO THE POLICE KILLINGS.
WE ALSO HAVE TO RESPOND TO WHAT, HOW THE POLICE HANDLED THIS WEEKEND.
PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE IN THE HOSPITAL FOR ATTENDING A DEMONSTRATION IT'S UNEXPECTED.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT SPEAKERS WILL BE COMING TO SHARE THEIR STORIES TODAY.
I WISH THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO, BUT ONCE YOU'RE DONE TESTIFYING, THE BALL IS CLEARLY AN ARTICLE.
I SHARE THE DISAPPOINTMENTS OF LEADERSHIP SHARED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE IN POLICING FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, FROM BUDGET TO POLICY TO PERSONNEL.
YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT POLICE ENFORCEMENTS CAN'T BE OUR PRIMARY TOOL FOR DEALING WITH SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN THIS CITY.
[00:35:01]
AND ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES, WE'VE GOT TO START MAKING A MEDIA CHANGE.AND I'VE BEEN TALKING TO COLLEAGUES ABOUT SOME OF THAT BEING AS SOON AS OUR NEXT VOTING SESSION NEXT WEEK, THAT MEANS BANNING EXPLICITLY BANNING THE CHOKE HOLDS THAT KILLED GEORGE FLOYD AND ERIC GARNER.
IT MEANS NOT ALLOWING TEAR GAS AND USE IMPACT MUNITIONS TO BE USED AGAINST PEOPLE JUST EXPRESSING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
IT MEANS ADOPTING SOME OF THOSE AIDS KIDS WEIGHTS, AND ACTUALLY JUST GETTING THROUGH, GETTING ALL EIGHT OF THEM DONE AS COUNCIL MEMBER AT ENTITY.
I MENTIONED AS SOON AS OUR NEXT VOTING SESSION, THAT MEANS ALL OF US ON THE DICE HERE TRYING MEANS AUSTIN TRYING TRY THE BEST WE CAN TO BE WHO IT IS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
UM, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? IS THIS, IS THIS, UH, WELL, THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT I WANT TO SAY TO ADD MY VOICES, TO ADD MY VOICE, TO WHAT OUR COLLEAGUES, UH, WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID.
UM, FIRST OFF I, UM, I JUST WANT, I WANT YOU TO KNOW, I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT I AM, I I'M TRYING TO THINK OF THE RIGHT WORDS, BUT I AM GREATLY DISTURBED.
AND WHAT HAPPENED THIS PAST WEEKEND IN AUSTIN? UM, AS I SAID, AS I SAID A FEW DAYS AGO, UM, IT IS, AND I THINK AS OTHERS MAY HAVE SAID IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE THAT PEOPLE ARE INJURED BY THE POLICE IN OUR CITY THAT CANNOT CONTINUE.
WE CANNOT HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THAT EVEN BECOMES A POSSIBILITY AND WE ALL ARE, DO ALL ARE, DO AN OPEN AND TRANSPARENT AND COMPLETE REVIEW OF THESE INCIDENTS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT I DO, UM, I DO RESPECT AND SAY THANK YOU TO THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO SERVE OUR CITY HONORABLY.
I DO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE FAILED IN OUR SOCIETY BY, UM, OFTEN BY NOT INVESTING IN OUR PEOPLE AND ENDING UP WITH SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS STOOL.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY AND NOT UP FOR DEBATE THAT WE HOLD OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR POLICE LEADERSHIP AND OUR CHIEF ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
WE SUPPORT OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND WE SUPPORT THOSE WHO HONORABLY SERVE OUR CITY.
WHEN WE HOLD EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE FOR MEETING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS.
I MEAN, THIS IS A CITY WE SHOULD BE, WE SHOULD BE THE BEST IN, IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT WE ARE FAR FROM IT AS WE CAN SEE WE, WE HOLD, WE, WE SUPPORT OUR OFFICERS WHEN WE HOLD EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE FOR MEETING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE EXPECT OF OUR CITY.
THAT'S WHAT WE EXPECT OF OUR POLICE AND THAT'S WHAT THEY EXPECT OF THEIR DEPARTMENT.
AND SO, UM, I AM, I AM ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU TO LISTEN TODAY.
I KNOW, I KNOW IT MUST BE VERY, VERY HARD.
I KNOW IT IS VERY HARD FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND TALK WITH US ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM, WHAT THEY SAW HAPPEN.
UM, AND IT IS, IT IS, UM, VERY DIFFICULT AND I APPRECIATE SO MUCH YOU COMING, YOU CONTINUE TO SPEAK OUT.
SO I AM ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO LISTENING TODAY.
AND THEN I WILL ALL OF MY HEART AND MY MIND AND IN COLLABORATION WITH YOU AND WITH MY COLLEAGUES FOR FUNDAMENTAL, IMMEDIATE CHANGE.
AND I APPRECIATE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CASARA HAS MENTIONED.
AND OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED, WE CAN, WE CAN DO THIS.
I MEAN, WE CAN DO THIS, WE HAVE TO DO THIS AND WE MUST IMMEDIATELY MAKE CHANGE.
AND SO, UM, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE AND SHARING WITH US.
AS ARE THE HARPER MADISON, DO YOU WANT TO GO BEFORE OR AFTER ME? YEAH, THE CHAIR.
I'LL LET YOU MAKE THE CALL AND I'M GOING TO GO FIRST AND LET YOU CLOSE.
[00:40:01]
REALLY CLEAR THAT THIS IS THE MOMENT TO STAND AGAINST INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES.WE HAVE TO RISE TO THIS OCCASION.
WE HAVE TO DELIVER ACCOUNTABILITY, WRONGS AND DISMANTLE THE DENIALS OF BASIC JUSTICE.
IT MUST LEAN IN TO HAVE REAL ACTION.
I BELIEVE THAT WE CANNOT HAVE OUR PLACE SHOOTING INTO CROWDS OF PROTESTERS, RIGHT? TO PROTEST, AND TO DISRUPT, CANNOT BE FRAUGHT WITH HERE.
THAT ISSUE THAT LED ME TO JOIN WITH COLLEAGUES TO SET THIS DELIBERATION AND CONVERSATION TODAY, TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE DO DEMONSTRATIONS IN THIS CITY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE OVER TIME.
WE DO NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN ENCOURAGING EXPRESSION AND KEEPING EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, PROTECTED DEMONSTRATORS, POLICE OFFICERS, BUSINESS OWNERS.
WE HAVE TO START SEEING EACH OTHER AS PART OF ONE COMMUNITY RISE AND FALL TOGETHER.
WE SHOULD NOT FOLLOW ANY VOICES THAT SUGGEST OTHERWISE WE SHOULD NOT FOLLOW ANY VOICES THAT SUGGEST THAT QUESTIONS AND CRITICISMS OF POLICE, TACTICS AND PROTOCOLS ARE SOMEHOW INDICTMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL POLICE OFFICERS OR ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE HOPE THAT IN AUSTIN, WE CAN HAVE A POLICE FORCE.
WE CAN HAVE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY THAT LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE THE AUSTIN THAT WE ASPIRE TO BE THE PROTESTS THAT I PLAYED ON LOCALLY.
SINCE GEORGE FLOYD'S KILLING, I FOCUSED OUR ATTENTION ON MR. FLOYD'S SENSELESS, DEATH KILLING AND MIKE GRANDMA'S HERE IN AUSTIN AND OF OTHER BLACK PEOPLE WHOSE INTERACTIONS WITH POLICE TURNED FATAL WITH AN ALARMING REGULARITY, ANGUISH, BLACK MEN AND WOMEN.
ALL AGENTS HAVE BEEN JOINED BY NEIGHBORS OF ALL STRIPES AND BELIEFS TO DECLARE THAT THINGS HAVE TO CHANGE AIR DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND THIS COUNCIL HERE'S THAT I HEARD SOMEONE SAY RECENTLY THAT THEY WERE TIRED OF LIVING IN UNPRECEDENTED TIMES, WHICH WAS A FUNNY WAY OF SAYING THAT IT'S HARD TO OVERSTATE.
HOW COMPLICATED A MOMENT LIKE THIS IS IN OUR HISTORY.
WE ARE FINALLY, IT SEEMS YOU NEED TO TAKE ON INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND THE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS THAT THAT ENTAILS.
I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE FINALLY READY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE DEMONSTRATIONS.
I AM THE, THE CHEERLEADER ON COVID AND THE VIRUS.
I AM ALARMED THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY OR OUR DAILY AVERAGE OF HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS IS INCREASING.
AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT IMPACT ON POPULATIONS, HOLLER, AND ARE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS VIRUS.
I WANT AS MANY BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE HERE TO EXPERIENCE THE MORE EQUITABLE FUTURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO BUILD TOGETHER.
THAT MAKES BEING SMART AND PREPARE FOR THE CHOICE TO GO OUT INTO THE CROWDS DURING THIS PANDEMIC, YOUR HEART CALLS YOU OUT TO PROTEST.
PLEASE SAY ASKED TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU CAN PLEASE MAINTAIN AS MUCH DISTANCE AS POSSIBLE.
I AGREE WITH MY FRIEND AND MENTOR OR THAT PIERCE PER THAT THE PRESIDENT OF HOUSTON TILLOTSON JUST SAID TO HER HOUSTON TILLOTSON COMMUNITY TO STAND SHOULDER, TO SHOULDER AS WARRIORS WARRIORS WHO MUST SMART AND STRATEGIC ANNOUNCING VIOLENCE WARRIORS, WHO RECOGNIZE THAT VIOLENCE IS NOT SMART AND IN NO WAY, STRATEGIC VIOLENCE, NEITHER ERADICATION OR DISMANTLES, ANYTHING BESIDES HARDWIRED HARD WON PROGRESS.
I ALSO WANT TO CALL OUT THE MOMENTS OF GRACE THAT WE HAVE WITNESSED DURING THE PROTESTS OF THE AMONG PROTESTORS AND OUR POLICE.
THERE WERE PEOPLE PICKING UP TRASH IT 35 STRANGERS COMFORTED ONE ANOTHER AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND FLOWED FROM THE COMMUNITY TO HELP MAKE SMALL BUSINESSES ALL AGAIN, THROUGHOUT HISTORY, PEACEFUL PROTESTERS, INCLUDING MOHAMMAD GANDHI AND MARTIN LUTHER KING HAVE USED THEIR BODIES TO DISRUPT DAILY LIFE WHERE THEY COMFORT AND TO COMMAND THE ATTENTION OF THE BROADER COMMUNITY.
[00:45:01]
TO BE BY INTERRUPTING BUSINESSES.USUAL PROTESTS ARE ALSO DISRUPT PATTERNS OF THOUGHT AND POLICY AND IMPORTANT WAYS.
MANY OF OUR BANDS IN OUR ARC TOWARD JUSTICE HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF PROTEST.
EVERY BLACK PERSON IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO IS ANGUISHED BY RECENT EVENTS, EVERY MOTHER WHO SEES HER OWN CHILD AND MIKE GRANDMAS AND GEORGE FLOYD IS THIS.
I WANT THESE PROTESTS TO REAL CHANGE, AND I WANT YOU TO SEE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON.
UM, AND THANK YOU TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR SHARING YOUR HEARTFELT WORDS.
UM, ALTHOUGH I'VE BEEN GIVEN PERMISSION ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS BY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO CRY AGAIN, IF I NEED TO, UM, I WENT THROUGH A PRETTY GREAT DEAL OF EMBARRASSMENT ABOUT CRYING IN FRONT OF Y'ALL ON TUESDAY.
SO I'M GONNA TRY TO NOT DO THAT AGAIN TODAY.
UM, BUT I WILL SAY THAT YOUR WORDS ARE, ARE INSPIRING.
AND I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE HEARTFELT, BUT I WOULD FEEL LIKE WE'D BE REMISSED TO TAKE ONE MORE MINUTE OF THIS MEETING AND NOT HAVE OUR POLICE CHIEF NOT SHOW HIS FACE.
I IMPLORE YOU WHEN THESE PEOPLE COME BEFORE YOU, IF YOU COULDN'T DO IT FOR MY COLLEAGUES, WHEN THESE CHIEF WILL COME BEFORE YOU TO SHARE THEIR PART WITH YOU, I WANT THEM TO LOOK AT YOU WHEN THEY DO IT.
AND I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THEM.
I IMPLORE YOU TO PLEASE TURN YOUR CAMERA ON.
UM, THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS I'M CONCERNED ABOUT RUMORS.
I'M HEARING ABOUT PROVOCATE TOURS.
WE HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF TAKING WHAT SHOULD BE A MOMENT FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, TOO RECOGNIZED.
A VERY LONG LIST OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE TURNS OUT THERE'S THE WHITE PEOPLE ON THAT LIST TOO.
AND I'M NOT SURE DISREGARDING THEM FOR A MOMENT, BUT TODAY, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS HOW BLACK LIVES MATTER.
IF THAT'S NOT WHY YOU WERE OUT HERE DEMONSTRATING.
IF YOU'RE A PERSON WHO WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PUSH YOUR AGENDA.
AND IT'S NOT ABOUT BLACK LIFE, THE DEB BLESS HAD SHAME ON YOU, BUT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO MAY FIND THEMSELVES ALONGSIDE THESE PEOPLE DO NOT LET THEM SWAY YOU OR CONFUSE YOUR MISSION.
IF YOUR GOAL WAS TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BLACK LIFE, DON'T LET PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT THERE'S A PARTY WHO THINKS THIS IS LOLLAPALOOZA OUT HERE AND THEY'RE HAVING A BREAK TIME.
DON'T LET THOSE PEOPLE CONFUSE YOU AND DON'T LET THEM GET YOU IN TROUBLE OR GET YOU HURT.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT PERSON DON'T DEAL WITH THEM.
IF SOMEBODY IS TRYING TO HAND YOU SOMETHING AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SOMETHING YOU OTHERWISE WOULDN'T HAVE DONE WITHOUT THEM HANDING YOU THAT THING AND TELLING YOU TO THROW IT, I AM BEGGING YOU TO NOT LET THESE PEOPLE CONFUSE YOU AND THE MISSION RIGHT NOW, THEN I'LL GO ON TO SAY THIS, IF I MAY, AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO BE BRIEF.
I ALREADY SAID IT THE TIME FOR US CONTINUING TO TALK.
AND, AND THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT A SLIGHT AGAINST ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES.
I'M JUST SAYING WE'RE TIRED OF TALKING AND I'M TIRED OF PEOPLE FEELING BAD.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT'S INTENDED TO SOUND LIKE THIS, BUT WHEN YOU SAY YOU MUST FEEL SO BAD RIGHT NOW, YOU MUST BE SO SAD RIGHT NOW, WE ALL SHOULD FEEL BAD AND FEEL SAD.
THIS IS NOT MINE OR THAT OF ANY OTHER BLACK OR BROWN OR OTHERWISE MARGINALIZED PERSON.
[00:50:01]
WE ALL SHOULD FEEL SAD AND MAD AND DEMAND THAT WE STOP TALKING.THE OUTCRY FOR JUSTICE IT'S BEEN PRESENT, BUT WE DIDN'T ANSWER IT.
SO WHEN THE PRISON OUTCRY WAS THEN ANSWERED HERE WE ARE RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, SINCE THE DAY, THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY WAS FOUNDED.
EVERYTHING WAS WRONG BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY WAS INCLUDED RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW AT THIS MOMENT, IT JUST SO HAPPENS.
IT'S THE LOUDEST IT'S EVER BEEN, BUT IT'S NOT A NEW SOUND.
THERE ARE JUST SOME FOLKS WHO WERE ABLE TO IGNORE THE SOUND WHO WERE ABLE TO GAS, LIGHT PEOPLE AND TELL THEM THAT THEIR CONCERNS WEREN'T VALID.
WELL, TOM DIDN'T SHOW UP NO MORE TIME FOR TALKING NO MORE TIME FOR TALKING IN CIRCLES.
IT'S TIME TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE.
I CAN'T WAIT TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING HERE TO TELL US THEIR TRUTH, BECAUSE THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THEY'VE BEEN TELLING US THEIR TRUTH FOR GENERATIONS, HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF PEOPLE SAYING THIS IS MY EXPERIENCE.
AND IN THE MODERN DAY ERA OF BEING ABLE TO CLICK ON THE DRAMATIC ASS VIDEOS, BY THE WAY, PEOPLE BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SHARE, PLEASE BE CAREFUL.
THE CONTINUATION OF TRAUMA DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL ANY MORE COMPELLED TO SPEAK MY TRUTH.
I WAS ALREADY TELLING YOU ALL MY TRUTH, BE CAREFUL.
AND PLEASE BE GENTLE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY DEALING WITH PRESENT TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.
THERE'S NO POST IT'S RIGHT NOW.
AND AS WE NAVIGATE THAT SPACE, I WANT FOLKS TO KNOW.
WE HEARD YOU, YOU SEE, YOU WERE ABOUT TO HEAR FROM MORE OF YOU.
AND WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TELL US THE TRUTH AND WE NEED TO HEAR YOU.
WE NEED JUSTICE AND WE NEED IT RIGHT NOW.
I, SOMEBODY REACHED OUT TO ME TO TELL ME THAT MY WORDS, AS OF LATE, MADE THEM FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE THAT THEY WERE TOO AGGRESSIVE, NOT LADYLIKE TO THINGS I NEVER TOLD Y'ALL.
I WAS A LADY AND I DON'T CARE ABOUT MAKING PEOPLE FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.
WE NEED TO GET IT TOGETHER AND WE NEED TO DO IT RIGHT NOW.
AND WE HAVE TO DO IT AS A COMMUNITY BOUND BY THE RECOGNITION OF THE TRUTH.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I GOT TO BE HONEST WITH.
I HAVE TO STAY IN MY CHAIR AND NOT CRY.
AND I JUST, I WILL CLOSE WITH THIS.
THANK YOU TO EVERY PERSON WHO TOOK THE TIME TO SHARE YOUR TRUTH WITH US TODAY, I WILL KEEP MY CAMERA ON.
EVEN IF MY KIDS COME IN, EVEN IF MY DOG BARKS MY CAMERA'S ON.
CAUSE I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I SEE YOU AND I HEAR YOU.
AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO, FOR ONE MOMENT, NOT BELIEVED THAT WE SEE AND HEAR YOU, AND THAT YOUR WORDS, YOUR ACTIONS, YOU STANDING UP IT IS WHAT'S PUSHING US FORWARD TO DO THINGS THAT ARE EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT, BUT THE TIME HAS COME.
AS A REMEMBER, HARPER, MADISON.
THANK EVERYBODY FROM THE DIOCESE.
WE'RE NOT GONNA RECOGNIZE, UH, THE CHIEF, UH, HAND THE MANAGER, UH, IF THEY WANT TO, UH, UH, SAY SOMETHING AND THEN WE'LL GO TO SPEAKERS AFTER SPEAKERS REGARDING TO RECESS THE MEETING UNTIL TOMORROW AFTER SPEAKERS, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO VOTE ON ITEM SEVEN AND THEN WE'LL RECESS THE MEETING UNTIL TOMORROW.
DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? I WASN'T A MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY.
UH, WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN TODAY BECAUSE OVER THE LAST PAST WEEKS AND MONTHS, OUR CITY AND BROADLY, OUR NATION HAS AGAIN BEEN FORCED TO CONFRONT A TRAGIC LOSS OF HUMAN LIFE.
OUR COMMUNITY HAS EXPRESSED A RANGE OF EMOTIONS AND MANY ARE JUSTIFIABLY,
[00:55:01]
OUTRAGED, SAD, ANXIOUS, AND FOR SOME EVEN FEARFUL FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.AND WHILE WE ALL ARE RIGHTLY DISTURBED BY MUCH OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN, I'VE ALSO WITNESSED THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE ON THE PART OF OUR CITY TO FACE THESE ISSUES, HEAD ON AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO CONFRONT OUR DEEPLY TROUBLING HISTORY OF INEQUITY AND JUSTICE AND SYSTEMIC RACISM.
AND I PERSONALLY STRUGGLED WITH THE COMPLEXITY OF THIS MOMENT AND REALIZE THAT OUR FEELINGS CAN'T, AND SHOULDN'T BE LIMITED TO ONE OR TWO CHOICES.
I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN CONDEMN THE DISGUSTING ABUSE OF POWER AUTHORITY AND TRUST BY SOME OFFICERS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, RESPECT AND APPRECIATE THOSE WHO CHOOSE POLICING AS A CALLING AND TREAT OTHERS WITH THE DIGNITY AND RESPECT WE ALL DESERVE.
I ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FOR FAR TOO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY LIVED EXPERIENCE HAS LEFT THEM FEELING HOPELESS, AFRAID, AND CONVINCED THAT NOTHING WILL EVER CHANGE.
I WANT EVERYONE IN AUSTIN TO KNOW THAT I AM COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO HARD WORK, HAVING THE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS, TAKING THE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS AND FINDING A WAY FORWARD THAT REBUILDS THAT LOSS OF TRUST WHILE IMPROVING OUR POLICE FORCE TO ENSURE THAT AS REFLECTIVE OF THE VALUES THAT AUSTIN HOLDS DEAR TODAY IS ABOUT LISTENING TOMORROW.
WE WILL HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE TACTICS THAT WERE USED LAST WEEKEND.
UH, BUT WITH THIS I'LL PAUSE AND PASS IT OVER TO OUR POLICE CHIEF, THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL AND I TO TAKE THIS AS A VERY IMPORTANT AND MOMENTOUS TIME, A TIME WHERE WE NEED TO REFLECT ON WHAT BROUGHT US HERE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S, WHAT'S BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT SO MANY TIMES BEFORE, AND THAT IS THINGS INVOLVING POLICE, COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS AND AREA THAT WE ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH.
THE BOSTON AREA WE HAVE WORKED ON SO FAR.
I TOO STRUGGLED TO WATCH THAT VIDEO OF MINNEAPOLIS.
I, ALONG WITH MANY OF MY PEERS AS POLICE CHEATS AND MANY RANK AND FILE MEMBERS, POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY IMMEDIATELY SPOKE OUT.
IT'S WHAT WE SAW BECAUSE THAT DOES NOT REFLECT, OKAY.
I GUESS OUR MEN AND WOMEN AGREE DYNAMIC SITUATIONS DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
YOU TRAIN THEM TO THE REST OF OUR PRIORITIES.
WE GIVE THEM THE BEST OF OUR NERVE RELEASE, AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE WILL BE MISTAKES.
AND I THINK THE MOMENTUM WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS TO LOOK AT POLICE AND TO LOOK AT OUR INTERACTIONS, WITH, TO IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE WE'VE HEARD OR SHOULD BE DOING BETTER OR DIFFERENTLY.
AND TO UNDERSTAND CHIEF, IT'S HARD TO HEAR YOU.
UM, AND YOU GET CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE.
I'M SORRY, IS THIS BETTER? MUCH BETTER.
DO I NEED TO START ALL OVER? NO, BUT I, I WILL, I WILL WRAP THEM.
I THINK I WILL WRAP WITH JUST SAYING THAT, UM, WE ARE COMMITTED THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, TO SERVE THEM RIGHTLY AND APPROPRIATELY, AND TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THE COMMENTS AND TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES AGAIN, TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN THOSE AREAS WHERE IMPROVEMENTS, SPANKED, COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON, SORRY.
UM, UH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, AS A FOLLOW UP, THERE'S AN EVENT THAT'S TAKEN PLACE THIS WEEKEND AT HOUSTON TILLOTSON UNIVERSITY.
UM, IT'S GOING TO BE HOSTED BY AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION.
IT'S GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BLACK AND BROWN VOICES TO LEAD THE CONVERSATION, UM, WHICH WHILE WE CAN APPRECIATE ALL THE VOICES OF ALL OF THE ALLIES, SOMETIMES IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE WHEN YOU NEED TO TAKE UP SPACE AND WHEN YOU NEED TO LISTEN.
SO THIS WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE TO TAKE UP SPACE AND EVERYBODY ELSE TO LISTEN.
SO THERE'S GOING TO BE AN EVENT THIS WEEKEND AS HOUSTON TILLOTSON UNIVERSITY.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND FOLKS WHO OTHERWISE MIGHT GO OUT.
UM, THIS EVENING OR TOMORROW EVENING OR SATURDAY EVENING, THERE WILL BE A TIME AND A PLACE IN A SPACE THAT WE CAREFULLY CURATE IN A WAY THAT WE ARE BEING MINDFUL ABOUT THE MESSAGE, THE GOALS AND THE AGENDA.
AND IT WILL BE A PLACE IN HIS FACE FOR US TO LEAD THE CONVERSATION
[01:00:01]
AND OTHER PEOPLE TO LISTEN.UM, IF FOLKS ARE LOOKING FOR A WAY AND A PLACE AND A TIME, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY ON SUNDAY AT HT TO LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD.
UM, I DON'T HAVE ALL THE SPECIFICS IN TERMS OF TIME AND EVERYTHING, BUT I WILL PROMISE YOU THAT BEFORE THIS MEETING IS OVER, I WILL MAKE CERTAIN TO SHARE IT ON MY PAGE.
I'LL MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE CITY IS SHARING THE INFORMATION, BUT THERE WILL BE A PLACE AND A SPACE AND A TIME, UM, FOR US TO HAVE OUR VOICES BE HEARD AND FOR ANTI-RACIST ALLIES TO LISTEN.
UM, COULDN'T NOT SAY THAT AND I'LL BRING WHATEVER OTHER DETAILS I HAVE LATER.
UM, JUST PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND, FOLKS.
AND WHEN WE WERE GOING TO TRY AND GET TO THE SPEAKERS COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR, THIS IS ACTUALLY A PROCEDURAL I'M HEARING THAT SOME SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CUT OFF FROM THE SPEAKER LINE AND ARE HAVING TROUBLE CALLING BACK IN.
DOES THE STAFF HAVE ANY ADVICE ON FOLKS BEING ABLE TO REACCESS THE LINE? SO THEY WERE DISCONNECTED AND THEN THEY'RE HAVING TROUBLE, UM, CALLING BACK IN OR WE SHOULD THEY CONTACT, CAN WE GET SOME GUIDANCE ON THAT? IF THEY HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED? UH, MANY OF THEM ARE EMAILING ME AND I'M GIVING THEM, GIVE ME GIVING THEM THE INFORMATION, BUT ALSO PROVIDE IT TO THREE, ONE, ONE.
DID YOU SAY IT OUT LOUD ONCE? WHAT DID, WOULD THE INFORMATION? UM, WELL, I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THE NUMBER OUT.
UM, BUT MANY OF THEM ARE EMAILING ME AND I'M PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION AND I WILL ALSO PROVIDE IT TO THREE, ONE, ONE.
AND FOR ANYONE LISTENING, UM, IF THEY ARE IN THE QUEUE, THEY NEED TO PRESS ZERO TO BE ADMITTED.
I THINK WE'RE PREPARED NOW FOR YOU TO, UH, UH, RECOGNIZE SPEAKERS AS WE DISCUSSED COLLEAGUES.
UH, UM, FIRST 20 SPEAKERS ARE GOING TO GET THREE MINUTES.
THERE'VE BEEN SOME INVITED TESTIMONY THAT WILL BE GIVEN SIMILAR TIME.
UH, AND THEREAFTER SPEAKERS WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE.
WE HAVE ABOUT 334 SPEAKERS THAT SIGNED UP YESTERDAY TO SPEAK.
SO I NOW TURN IT OVER TO, UH, THE CLARK AND THE OTHERS TO, UH, TAKE US THROUGH THE SPEAKERS.
UM, WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE SPANISH SPEAKERS.
SO IF, UM, THE INTERPRETER CAN BE ADMITTED AND EACH COLOR WILL, WILL GET TWO MINUTES.
THE FIRST SPANISH SPEAKER IS GARDENA SANCHEZ.
MY NAME IS KARINA AND I AM CALLING BECAUSE YEAH, YEAH.
AND I'M CALLING TO GET SUPPORT FROM THE BOOK FOR THE RIDE, FOR THE RIDE COMMUNITY OF THE 70 MILLION THAT IS ON TODAY BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY FOUNDATION THAT'S HELPED US.
MMM
THIS IS THE HELP THAT WE NEED.
WE NEED HELP OR BE ABLE TO PAY OUR RENT AND TO PAY FOR OUR FOOD.
[01:05:06]
UM, IT'S PLAYING A THING, YOUR MOTHER
CAUSE THEY'RE MOMENTS THAT WE COUNT AS A COMMUNITY AS WELL.
AND IF SOMEONE, THIS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS BEEN HELPING MOST OF THE FAMILIES THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO MOVE AHEAD.
AND THEY NOW, THEY DON'T HAVE JOBS.
IT'S OUR ONLY WAY TO MOVE FORWARD.
UH IT'S SO YUCKY, UH
[01:10:01]
WHEN I DO THAT CORRECTLY, IT HELPS US A LOT.
THOSE ARE BILLS AND OUR INSURANCE AGAIN, FOR THEM TO TELL YOU THAT
I CAN ALSO APPLY SOME OF THAT MATH.
IN FACT, WHAT IS THAT FUNDING? YEAH, BUT IT'S PINNED DIMMICK YEAH.
I'LL SEE WHERE THE
I TREAT THEM BEING
IN THE RIGHT
MA'AM WOULD IT MAKE SENSE FOR THE TRANSLATOR TO LET THE SPEAKERS KNOW THAT WE HAVE APPROVED THE 70 MAYOR? I'LL GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.
BIOMEDICAL
THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE SPANISH SPEAKERS THERE.
PLEASE CONTINUE WITH THE NEXT ONES ON THE LIST.
I GALA YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
UM, MY NAME IS EDWIN ON THE YESTERDAY, THE ONE WEEK, UH, MY LITTLE BROTHER'S 16TH BIRTHDAY.
UM, AND ON SATURDAY HE HAD JUST LEFT SATURDAY MORNING.
HE LEFT JERSEY MIKE'S JOB WORK, SAVE UP PITTSBURGH, HIS CARD AT WORK.
HE WILL DO A BROKEN
HE WOULD KNOW UNTIL HE GOT TRANSFERRED TO THOSE CHILDREN.
WHEN WE HEARD, WHEN MY MOM HEARD, WE DROVE TO THE HOSPITAL, I, I SEEN IT ON THE CAR, RIDE HOME ON THE CAR RIGHT THERE.
COULDN'T EVEN FIND A PLACE CAUSE SHE WAS JUST SO IN SHOCK.
AND BY THE TIME WE GOT TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY TOLD US,
[01:15:01]
THEY SAID THAT HE HAD A PUNCTURE IN HIS HEAD AND THE RISK OF INTERNAL BLEEDING WOULDN'T BE KNOWN UNTIL THEY GOT INTO THE SURGERY.WE STARTED THE SURGERY AT 11 AND WE DIDN'T KNOW, WE THOUGHT HE WAS IN THE DIE.
WE PRAYED ALL DAY ON THE PHONE.
THE DOCTORS THOUGHT IT WAS A RUBBER BULLET.
THEY LEFT IT IN THERE FOR HOURS.
THEY LEFT A RUB WITH THE QUOTE UNQUOTE RUBBER BULLETS.
UM, ONCE THEY GOT IN THERE, THEY FOUND THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY A BEANBAG BACK, HAD A LARGER SURFACE AREA THAN THE RUBBER BULLET.
IT ACTUALLY CREATED A VERY LARGE WOUND, A VERY LARGE HOLE ESSENTIALLY ON HIS FOREHEAD.
NOT ONLY THAT IT HAD PENETRATED THE SKULL, IT HAD RUPTURED, FRACTURED IT THAT INVENTED INTO THE BRAIN AND LEFT THE LARGE CONCUSSION CONTUSION, WHICH IS MUCH MORE DANGEROUS THAN A CONCUSSION.
HIS PREFRONTAL CORTEX IS DAMAGED.
HE HAS PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW MANAGING HIS EMOTIONS BECAUSE THAT PART OF HIS BRAIN IS DAMAGED.
HIS COGNITIVE ABILITIES WILL HAVE TO BE ASSESSED WITHIN THE FEW MONTHS COMING.
WE HOPE FOR RECOVERY, BUT WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW.
LET ME GIVE YOU MY BEAUTIFUL SHADOW.
AND BECAUSE OF THE, BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE QUOTE UNQUOTE BEANBAG, THE RISK OF INFECTION WAS SO LARGE.
HE WAS ON MULTIPLE ANTIBIOTICS.
THE SURGERY WAS AROUND SEVEN HOURS DUE TO THE COMPLICATIONS.
THEY HAVE TO GET A PLASTIC SURGEON IS GOING TO HAVE A SCAR ON HIS FOREHEAD, THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
HEY, BUT THEY TOLD US THAT HOPEFULLY WE ARE HOPING FOR A GOOD RECOVERY.
THE FACT IS THE BEAN BAGS ARE NOT INNOCUOUS.
IT'S THEIR SHOT AT THE HEAD, WHICH IS WHAT WE SUSPECT OF GOING ON BECAUSE IN THE VIDEO HE WAS ON A HILL AND THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN MISS SHOOTING AT THE HEAD.
YOU KNOW, THEY WERE AIMING ABOVE HIS HEAD.
THE BULLET WOULD GO DOWN INTO IT.
IT HIT HIM RIGHT IN THE FOREHEAD AND TWICE IN THE BODY.
WE JUST WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH REGION, LARGE AS MUCH TRANSPARENCY, POLICE, NOTHING WRONG.
LISTEN NOW BECAUSE THE PART OF HIS BRAIN THAT CONTROLS MOTION DAMAGE.
SO WHENEVER HE FEELS EVEN A LITTLE BIT OF PAIN, HIS BRAIN GOES INTO OVERDRIVE AND IT MAKES YOU TENSE UP HIS BODY.
AND I'M ASKING FOR ANYBODY THAT WAS THERE TO CONTACT US, TO PROVIDE US WITH THE FOOTAGE FROM THE POLICE AS WELL.
CAUSE WE WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH.
THEY KEPT USING BAGS, DANGEROUS INFECTION, THE PAIN, THE DOCTOR SAID IT WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER IF IT WAS A RUBBER
[01:20:01]
BULLET, BECAUSE THEN THE PUNCTURE WOUND WOULD HAVE BEEN SMALLER.AND THE RISK OF INFECTION LOWER THE WOUND WOULD HAVE BEEN NOT AS SCARRED.
THE SURGERY WOULD HAVE BEEN SHORTER, NAKED WHIPLASH DAMAGE.
HIS NECK HURTS HIM MORE THAN HIS HEAD.
HE CAN'T COME IN WITHOUT HELP AND SUPPORT.
AND I'M READY TO HIT WITH SOME BUTTONS.
IT'S SO HARD TO GET EVEN REGGIE HE'S GOING THROUGH.
IT'S ALL WE HAD WAS THE TRANSPARENCY, THE TRUTH TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
EDWIN, THANK YOU FOR TALKING WITH ME EARLIER TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.
EVERYONE HERE IS HEARTBROKEN, BUT THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN SAY TO MAKE IT BETTER, PLEASE, PLEASE.
NO, HE WOULD FLOW CLOSE TO THE VELOCITY.
HIT HIM WITH A HUNDRED KILOMETER BASEBALL SMASH SNEAKERS CALLED TITANIUM MESS PLATE.
I WAS GONNA ASK, DO YOU HAVE SOME, DO YOU, DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE THERE WITH YOU WITH YOU? OKAY.
MAYBE WE COULD TRY TO MAKE SURE THERE'S SOMEONE THERE WILL.
IF THAT ONE PLEASE WITH EDWIN.
WHY? WHY WOULD THEY EVER KNEW? OKAY.
WE CAN EVEN MENTION IT FRIENDS CAUSE THEY CRY.
OUR HOPE IS WITH THE CONVERSATION THAT YOU HAVE STARTED HERE THIS EVENING WITH THE OTHER SPEAKERS AND YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK TONIGHT AND WITH PRESENTATION, WE'LL GET HOPEFULLY SOME ANSWERS AND SOME CORRECTIONS.
WHEN YOU SAID WE WEREN'T GOING TO ASK QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW, BUT I AM GOING TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO LET US ASK A COUPLE FOR YOU WHILE YOU'RE ON THE LINE.
UM, MANAGER, CHIEF, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING TO MAKE SURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO A SINGLE PERSON EVER AGAIN.
WHAT I WANT TO HEAR FROM BOTH OF YOU, WHAT WE ARE DOING TO MAKE SURE THIS NEVER HAPPENS TO ANYONE, TO THIS FAMILY.
I WON'T SPEAK TO SOME IMMEDIATE CHANGES DEPLOYMENT FOR THE PROTEST THIS WEEK.
AND THAT IS THAT THE USE IS BEING BAGGED OUT, BE USED IN A CROWD SITUATION.
IT IS STILL A APPROPRIATE IN MANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND SO IT IS STILL APPROVED FOR USE HOWEVER, IN CROWDS.
SO I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST DIRECT ANSWER I CAN GIVE YOU REGARDING WHAT HAPPENED, CIRCUMSTANCE MANAGER.
WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN A REVIEW OF OBVIOUSLY THE EVENTS OF LAST WEEK AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN BE FULLY ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED.
UH, BUT WE'RE ALSO INCLUDING IN THAT MORE IMMEDIATE REVIEW OF THOSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT WAS REALLY INITIATED BY THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS COUNCIL BACK IN DECEMBER WITH, UH, AS ALLUDED THING.
[01:25:01]
WAITING THE INITIATION OF THAT.WE'RE ALREADY STARTING THAT PROCESS.
I'VE SEEN THE VIDEO OF LEVI AND HE WASN'T IN A CROWD.
SO CHANGING THE POLICY FOR CROWDS WOULD NOT HAVE CHANGED.
I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ON ASKING QUESTIONS, BUT THAT INSUFFICIENT.
I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ON THIS.
LET'S CONTINUE TO LET THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP, HAVE A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON.
UM, AND I'M SORRY, TRULY, UM, I WISH I COULD GIVE YOU A HUG.
UM, BUT IN THE ABSENCE OF THAT, SAY THAT, UM, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY RIGHT NOW AND WHO YOU AND OTHER FOLKS ON THE LINE WE ARE, WE'RE JUST PEOPLE UP HERE.
UM, AND WE'RE, BUT WE'RE NOT IMMORTAL.
RIGHT? AND SO TO HEAR SOMEBODY SHARE REALLY PERSONAL, REALLY PAINFUL, REALLY EMOTIONAL TESTIMONY, YOU JUST SHARED IS SOMETIMES REALLY HARD.
AND SO I JUST LET EVERYBODY KNOW YOU AT ONCE AND ANYBODY WHO MIGHT COME UP AFTER YOU, IF WE MUTE OUR CAMERA, IT'S STOPPED BECAUSE WE'RE NOT LISTENING AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PRESENT.
IT'S BECAUSE WE ARE MORE IMMEDIATE AND SOMETIMES WE'RE EXPECTED TO BE EXTRAORDINARILY PROFESSIONAL AND GRACEFUL.
AND IF WE TURN OFF OUR CAMERA, IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE NOT LISTENING.
SOMETIMES WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE A MINUTE TO COMPOSE OURSELVES.
SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY OFFICE AND I WILL BE IN TOUCH.
LET'S CONTINUE ON WITH THE NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM ALL OUR SPEAKERS BEFORE MIDNIGHT, IF WE CAN.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KATHY MITCHELL.
UM, I AM SIMPLY HERE TODAY TO CHANNEL A VIDEO THAT MANY PEOPLE PUT TIME AND ENERGY INTO COLLABORATING ON THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO SEE KIND OF ALL IN ONE PLACE, A NUMBER OF THE KEY ISSUES THAT YOU SHOULD ATTEND TO.
AND I'M JUST GOING TO LEAVE IT AT THAT BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST THREE MINUTE VIDEO AND I BELIEVE IT IS READY FOR YOUR VIEWING.
IF THEY KNEW I WAS RECORDING THEM RIGHT NOW, I REALLY THINK THEY'D BE HANDLING THIS DIFFERENTLY.
[01:30:04]
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO THANK, UH, MAYOR ADLER AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
UH, SO I WAS, UH, PEACEFULLY PROTESTING ON SUNDAY, UH, MAY 31ST IN SOLIDARITY WITH BLACK MATTER.
UM, WHEN I WAS NEAR
UH, I WAS SHOT WITH WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE EITHER A RUBBER BULLET, UH, OR A BEANBAG.
UH, I WAS HIT IN MY FACE IF I WERE NOT WEARING SUNGLASSES AT THE TIME.
I HAVE NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT I WOULD BE BLIND RIGHT NOW.
UH, I IMMEDIATELY HIT THE GROUND AND WAS DRAGGED AWAY BY FELLOW PROTESTORS.
AND I WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.
THERE WAS BLOOD ALL OVER MY CHEST AND MY HANDS.
I DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND IT ALL HAPPENED EXTREMELY QUICKLY.
UM, THE DAMAGE THAT I TOOK WAS A VERY LARGE LACERATION DUE TO THE SUNK, THE CUT FROM THE SUNGLASSES, FROM THE BULLET, UH, HITTING THEM.
UH, I BELIEVE IT WAS ALSO FIVE OR SIX BROKEN BONES, UH, NEAR MY, MY UPPER CHEEK AND THE BONE SUPPORTING MY EYE.
I ALSO HAVE, UM, UH, HOPEFULLY TEMPORARY, UH, RETINAL BRUISING.
UM, I HAVE TO UNDERGO ANOTHER SURGERY IN A WEEK THAT SURGERY, IT IS RISKY BECAUSE I WILL BE GETTING MULTIPLE TITANIUM PLATES TO SUPPORT MY EYE.
THERE'S A RISK FOR THE, FOR MY BODY TO REJECT THOSE PLATES.
THERE'S A RISK FOR INFECTION WITH THOSE PLATES.
UH, THERE'S ALSO A RISK OF GOING BLIND FROM THE SURGERY BECAUSE WHEN THEY DO THE SURGERY, THEY HAVE TO MAKE AN INCISION IN MY LOWER, IN MY LOWER LEFT EYELID.
UM, AND THERE'S ALSO A SIGNIFICANT RISK.
I WAS TOLD BY AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST OF PERMANENT VISION LOSS, UH, EITHER TEMPORARY OR, UH, EITHER PARTIAL OR PERMANENT.
UH, EVEN IF THE SURGERY GOES WELL, I'M CURRENTLY UNABLE TO EAT ANYTHING EXCEPT PUREED FOODS.
I HAVE TO DRINK THROUGH A STRAW.
I AM IN ENORMOUS PAIN, BOTH PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND SOON TO BE FINANCIALLY.
UM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THINK, UM, SOME OF THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE CALLED OUT, UM, THE POLICE CHIEF FOR NOT SHOWING HIS FACE AND FOR NOT HAVING SUFFICIENT ANSWERS TO USING THESE QUOTE UNQUOTE LESS LETHAL ROUNDS ON PEOPLE, PROTESTERS, I THINK THAT'S WRONG IN ANY SCENARIO.
SO, UH, I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
[01:35:03]
BRENTLEY DONALD.UH, CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES, THEY CAN HEAR YOU.
I AM THE FOUNDER OF THE NEW, UH, NEWLY FORMED GROUP ST.
UM, WE, UH, WE PROVIDE NONPARTISAN SUPPORT THE CARE WHEN TRADITIONAL, UH, EMERGENCY SERVICES CAN NOT, CAN NOT REACH A, UH, LOCATION, UH, FOR WHATEVER REASON.
UM, SEVERAL OF OUR MEDICS WERE INJURED, UM, INCLUDING ONE, UH, WHO NOW WILL HAVE TO UNDERGO MAJOR SURGERY IN HER HANDS.
SHE WAS, UH, ESCORTING JUSTIN HOWELL, UH, TO, UH, POLICE AS SHE WAS INSTRUCTED TO DO VIA NINE 11 AND, UH, HAD OUR HANDS IN THE AIR AND WAS SHOT DIRECTLY, UH, IN HER HANDS.
WE ALSO TREATED ABOUT A DOZEN, VERY SEVERE HEAD WOUNDS FROM, UH, BACKGROUNDS AND A COUPLE OF HUNDREDS, UM, MUCUS, MUCUS MEMBRANE, UH, IRRITANTS FROM, UH, BOTH GAS AND PEPPER SPRAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT, UM, EMS COMMANDER, UH, WESLEY HOPKINS WAS FANTASTIC TO WORK WITH THE MOMENT THAT HE KNEW THERE WERE EXPERIENCED MEDICS ON THE GROUND.
HE HAD, UH, HE HAD ESTABLISHED COMMUNICATION WITH US WITHIN MINUTES, UH, AND HIS, HIS ACTIONS, UH, REALLY HELPS US TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO A LOT OF THINGS.
UH, I DID ASK HIM TO PASS MY INFORMATION OFF ON SATURDAY MORNING TO UNIFY A COMMAND.
UM, I KNOW HE'S DONE THAT A FEW TIMES, UH, AND UNIFIED COMMAND NEVER, NEVER REACHED OUT TO, UH, TO WORK WITH US, TO PROTECT LIFE.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UM, FOR HAVING, HAVING ME ON TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY AND, UH, AND FOR THE ACTIONS THAT YOU'LL TAKE MOVING FORWARD, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
I PARTICIPATED IN THE PROTESTS ALL WEEKEND.
UM, I, I, NO POINT IN TIME THAT I CAN MAKE AN ACT OF VIOLENCE OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, YOU KNOW, ON SATURDAY I WAS WITH BHUTAN'S MACED THREE TIMES TEARGASSED AND HAD COUNTLESS SHOTS FIRED IN MY DIRECTION.
I WAS MACED TWICE, HAD MANY SHOTS FIRED AT ME AND I WITNESSED WHAT I CAN ONLY CALL A MASSACRE.
SUNDAY NIGHT, I HAVE WITNESSED COUNTLESS HEINOUS, VIOLENT CRIMINAL ACTS FROM MANY APD OFFICERS COMMITTED AGAINST PEACEFUL CIVILIANS.
THE TACTICS OF POLICE WERE LITERALLY EXACTLY LIKE A GANG.
AND WHEN SOMEONE THREW A PLASTIC WATER BOTTLE FROM 30 TO 50 YARDS AWAY, THE OFFICERS WOULD RETALIATE BY SHOOTING AND MACING, PEACEFUL PROTESTERS STANDING ON THE FRONT LINE.
THAT'S EXACTLY HOW A GANG RETALIATES.
I SPOKE WITH OFFICERS WHO SWORE THEY CARED FOR OUR CAUSE AND KNEW THAT APD HAS TRIGGER HAPPY AND RACIST OFFICES YET WHEN THEY WITNESSED THESE HEINOUS AND VIOLENT CRIMES, THEY DID NOTHING FOR THAT.
THEY ARE ACCOMPLICES TO THE CRIMES COMMITTED BY THE OTHER OFFICERS.
I BELIEVE EVERY SINGLE OFFICER WHO WORKED THE PROTEST EITHER COMMITTED ONE OF THOSE CRIMES OR WITNESSED ONE OF THOSE CRIMES BEING COMMITTED AND DID NOTHING.
I WITNESSED A COUNTER PROTEST OR RUN OVER A PEACEFUL WOMAN PROTEST OR ON HIS MOTORCYCLE AND FALL OFF HIS BIKE AND ATTACK A PROTESTER.
AND THEN IMMEDIATELY GETS WORN BY MANY PROTESTERS TO BE DETAINED.
THEN POLICE ADVANCE THEIR LINE TO THE POSITION OF THE MOTORCYCLIST, BEATING PROTESTERS OUT OF THE WAY WHO HAD DETAINED HIM, THE MAN, LET HIM GET ON HIS BIKE AND RIDE AWAY.
THERE IS A VIDEO EVIDENCE OF THIS HAPPENING I WITNESSED.
AND AGAIN, I'M GOING TO SAY, I REALLY, IT FELT LIKE A MASSACRE.
WHAT WAS SUNDAY NIGHT, SHORTLY BEFORE IT BEGAN.
I NOTICED ONE OF THE OFFICERS HOLDING A WEAPON WITH LIVE AMMUNITION WHO LOOKED QUITE EXCITED TO BE OUT ON THE LINE.
I STARTED TO INFORM HIS FELLOW OFFICERS ON THE LINE AND I WAS INFORMED BY TWO OTHER PROTESTERS THAT WHEN ASKED IF HE CARES, IF HE SHOOTS ANYONE TONIGHT, HE SCOFFED AND SAID NO OUTRAGED.
I RAN UP AND DOWN THE LINE, YELLING AT THE OFFICERS TO TELL THEIR
[01:40:01]
SERGEANT LITTLE DID I KNOW THE SERGEANT WAS STANDING ON THE LINE SILENTLY.I ONLY FOUND OUT AFTER I ASKED ONE OF THE OFFICERS WHERE HIS SERGEANT IS, AT WHICH POINT IN TIME, HE POINTED TO THE MAN STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO HIM.
I BEGGED HIM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
I TOLD HIM WHAT WAS SAID AND BROUGHT THE TWO WITNESSES OF THE OFFICER IN QUESTIONS, COMMENTS TO THE SERGEANT TO CONFIRM THE ACCUSATION.
SOME OFFICERS EVEN SHOOK THEIR HEADS IN DISAPPOINTMENT.
UPON HEARING ONE OF THEIR FELLOW OFFICERS SAID THAT THEY KNEW THEIR OFFICERS IN THEIR DEPARTMENT WHO, WHO THINK THAT WAY WITH THAT MENTALITY.
SERGEANT TOLD ME HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING.
UNLESS I SHOW HIM EVIDENCE THAT THE OFFICER IN QUESTION SAID THAT I SAID, THIS ISN'T A COURT OF LAW.
THEN THE SERGEANT WENT TO THE OFFICER IN QUESTION, SPOKE WITH HIM BRIEFLY THEN APPROACHED.
AND THE TWO WITNESSES, ONE OF THE WITNESSES ASKED IF HE DENIED IT.
AND THE SERGEANT SAID, OF COURSE HE DENIED IT.
HE DIDN'T BELIEVE THE OFFICER EITHER.
HE TOLD ME HE COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT AND WALKED AWAY MOMENTS LATER, THE SHOOTING STARTED.
I WAS STANDING APPROXIMATELY 15 YARDS AWAY FROM JUSTIN HOUSE.
AS HE WAS SHOT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD WHILE RUNNING AWAY, I WAS LOOKING RIGHT AT HIM WHEN IT HAPPENED RIGHT AT HIS FACE.
I SAW IT GO FROM EMOTIVE TO COLD.
AND THAT MOMENT KEEPS PLAYING IN MY HEAD OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
CHIEF MANLEY CLAIMS A PROTESTOR STANDING NEXT TO JUSTIN THROUGH A BACKPACK AND A WATER BOTTLE AT POLICE.
I DEMAND THAT CHIEF MANLEY RELEASED THE VIDEO FROM THE APD HALO CAMERA.
I'VE SEEN HIGH QUALITY FOOTAGE OF THAT MOMENT FROM SOMEONE RECORDING IN THE CROWD, IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE IS NO PROJECTILE IN THE AIR GOING TOWARDS THAT APD LINE.
A CLIP FROM THE VIDEO WAS IN THE COMPILATION.
WE RAN JUSTIN TO MEDICS AND I WENT BACK OUT TO THE EAST SIDE OF THE SOUTHBOUND ACCESS ROAD AND HID BEHIND A TREE CROUCHED DOWN, RECORDING LIVE ON FACEBOOK.
AT WHICH POINT IN TIME, OFFICER'S ON THE
WITHIN A MATTER OF SECONDS, I'M THINKING IT MUST HAVE BEEN A COORDINATED EFFORT BETWEEN MULTIPLE OFFICERS TO SHOOT ME IN THE BACK WHILE I WAS RECORDING.
ONE OF THE SHOTS WERE SO CLOSE TO HITTING ME IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD THAT A PIECE OF THE BARK BROKE OFF THE TREE AND HIT ME IN THE FACE.
THIS JUST MINUTES AFTER I WITNESSED JUSTIN GET SHOT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD, THAT MOMENT ALSO PLAYS IN MY HEAD OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
OFFICER WAIT UNTIL MEDICS GOT CLOSE AND IN WHAT SEEMED TO BE A COORDINATED FASHION IN THEIR WEAPONS AT THE MEDICS AND PROTESTORS, CARRYING JUSTIN AN OPEN FIRE STRIKING ONE OF THE MEDICS WHO HAD VERY CLEAR HIGH VISIBILITY TAPE FROM THREE FEET AWAY.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT SHE HAD BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE POLICE LINE WHO REQUESTED THEY CARRY JUSTIN FROM THE MEDIC STAGING AREA TOWARD POLICE OFFICERS FIRING INTO THE CROWD.
MEDICS FOLLOWED ORDERS THAT MEDIC THE LEAD MEDIC.
THE ONE WHO SPOKE WITH APD TODAY, SHE GAVE ME PERMISSION TO SAY THIS LAST NIGHT, I WAS SPEAKING WITH HER AND SHE TOLD ME SHE WOULD SPEAK AT THIS MEETING TODAY AND THAT SHE WANTED TO SPEAK AT THIS MEETING TODAY.
BUT SHE TOLD ME THIS MORNING, SHE TOLD ME SHE COULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE SHE HAD NIGHTMARES ALL NIGHT, LAST NIGHT.
AND HER ANXIETY WAS TOO HIGH TO SPEAK TODAY.
I HOPE THAT ONE DAY SHE HAS HEARD WHERE SHE HAS MANY, MANY STORIES OF OVER THE WEEKEND.
APD SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE THERAPY.
UPD SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE, OF EVERY PROTESTER AND MEDIC AND NEED STRAIGHT FROM THEIR BUDGET.
SUNDAY NIGHT WAS NOTHING SHORT OF A MASSACRE.
PEOPLE BEING PEACEFUL, PEOPLE RUNNING AWAY, ALL FACING NEARLY SUSTAINED FIRE FROM POLICE IN FRONT AND BEHIND FOR SEVERAL MINUTES.
IT WAS LIKE THEY WERE SHOOTING FISH IN A BARREL.
I BELIEVE IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOLLOW THE LEAD OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND SERIOUSLY CONSIDER AND DEBATE DISBANDING THE ENTIRE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND REPLACING IT WITH AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT LAW ENFORCEMENT INSTITUTION.
WE CANNOT LET THIS STAMP MINOR REFORMS WILL NOT DO THE TRICK, BUT I'VE SEEN OVER THE WEEKEND WAS A MASSIVE CULTURE PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF APD.
AND NO OFFICER IS WILLING TO STAND UP AGAINST ANOTHER OFFICER, PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY ARE FEAR.
THEY FEAR FOR RETALIATION AGAINST THEM BY THEIR FELLOW OFFICERS.
PLEASE DO SOMETHING, PLEASE HELP US.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRIS HARRIS.
[01:45:01]
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.STEPHANIE'S UM, UH, I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE FOR THE ALMOST FAMILY ALLAH FAMILY, THE MARTIN FAMILY, AND ALL THE FAMILIES IMPACTED BY RECENT POLICE VIOLENCE IN AUSTIN, UH, THROUGH THE FIRE OF THE OFFICERS INVOLVED AND THE POLICE LEADERSHIP IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LETTER YOU ALL RECEIVED FROM ORGANIZERS AND ADVOCATES, FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF MIKE WELLS.
I'M ALSO HEARING A CALL FOR DIVESTMENT, FROM POLICE AND INVESTMENT AND COMMUNITY, INCLUDING FOR THE DIRECT ASSISTANCE.
SO MANY NEED TO MAKE IT THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC AND RECESSION, TRAUMATIC STORIES AND VIDEOS OF POLICE VIOLENCE OF THE LAST TWO WEEKS THAT HAVE SHOCKED THE CONSCIENCE OF THIS CITY, THIS NATION IN THE WORLD, ALL TOO FAMILIAR TO THOSE OF US THAT HAVE COMMITTED OURSELVES TO ITS END, THIS VIOLENCE DEMAND, NOT ANOTHER STUDY OR ANOTHER ROUND OF TRAINING OR ANOTHER PIECE OF TECH OR ANOTHER LAYER OF CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT, BUT A FUNDAMENTAL RESTRUCTURING OF HOW WE DEFINE AND PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY DEMANDS THAT WE BE FUND POLICE.
THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY, THERE'LL BE CUTTING THE POLICE BUDGET BETWEEN 100 AND $150 MILLION THIS YEAR REPRESENTING AN EIGHT TO 12% CORRECT.
AND INVESTING THAT MONEY IN COMMUNITY OF COLOR, YOU ARE MORE THAN 40 CITY.
COUNCIL CANDIDATES ARE CALLING FOR A BILLION DOLLAR CUT TO THE NYTD $6 BILLION BUDGET OVER FOUR YEARS TO HELP FUND OTHER PROGRAMS SUCH AS BEEN SEEKING SOMEWHERE.
YOU CAN PUT IN THE FORT WORTH.
THIS IS JUST A START AND THE DECADES OF SCHOLARSHIP AND PRACTICE BY ABOLITIONISTS BLACK WOMEN.
AGAIN, ANGELA DAVIS, WHO WAS IN DEAL MORTAR, MARION, KAABA, AND MORE MUST BE RECOGNIZED LEADING US HERE, ORGANIZED PEOPLE OF COLOR, NOT ONLY COMMUNITY HAD THEM MAKING SIMILAR DEMANDS TO YOU AND YOUR PREDECESSORS, A BUDGET CYCLE AFTER BUDGET CYCLE TOO OFTEN ON DEAF EARS.
NOW, NOW THAT WE ALL SEE HOW BROKEN THE INSTITUTION OF POLICING IS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, INCLUDING NOW AND SEE HOW THIS INSTITUTION TOLERANCE ENABLES AND PROTECTS HORRIFIC VIOLENCE BY MEETING AND THEY'RE EMPLOYING, ESPECIALLY AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT VIOLATES ANY POLICY, YOU MUST RECOGNIZE THE LIMITS OF REFORM.
WELL, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT CITY POLICIES CHANGE TO REFLECT THE VALUES OF THIS COMMUNITY.
IT'S ALSO CLEAR THAT WE CAN NO LONGER, ESPECIALLY WITH CURRENT POLICE LEADERSHIP, COUNT ON, PULL OUT POLICIES, BEING ENFORCED, OR HOPEFULLY REFORMS TO IMPROVE THE INTERACTIONS OFFICERS HAVE WITH PEOPLE.
WE JUST HAVE TO DRASTICALLY REDUCE THOSE INTERACTIONS.
YOU HAVE TO DIVEST FROM POLICE, INVEST IN THE HEALTH, HOUSING, EDUCATION, AND OPPORTUNITY THAT WILL IMPROVE SAFETY FOR ALL, AND ULTIMATELY CREATE NEW COMMUNITY BASED APPROACHES TO ADDRESSING CONFLICT AND HARM THAT GUIDE US TOWARD A FUTURE FREE OF POLICE PATROLS AND STATE VIOLENCE.
YOU, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ONE SECOND.
I'M WITH GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP IN TEXAS ADVOCATES FOR JUSTICE.
I'M ALSO AN AUSTIN RESIDENT, A BLACK MAN AND A FORMERLY INCARCERATED PERSON.
SO I PARTICIPATED IN, IN EVERYDAY OF A PROTEST THIS WEEKEND AS WELL AND MONDAY AS WELL.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE FIRST BIT OF VIOLENCE THAT I SAW WAS WHEN JUST, UH, WEST OF CITY HALL, UH, POLICE OFFICERS SNATCHED AN UMBRELLA OUT OF THE HANDS OF A VERY SMALL FEMALE IDENTIFYING PERSON.
AND THEN WHEN SHE TURNED TO ASK, WHY SPRAYED HER WITH PEPPER SPRAY IN HER FACE FROM ABOUT THREE FEET AWAY? THE ONLY REASON I CAN SAY THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED IS BECAUSE I WAS WATCHING IT WITH A CLEAR LATERAL VIEW AND I SAW IT ALL.
WELL, I WAS NOT SURPRISED THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DID SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND I WOULD HOPE NONE OF YOU HEARING THIS WOULD BE SURPRISED BASED ON THE AMPLE DATA AND EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS THAT WELL SINCE INCEPTION, AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN RACIST AS HELL.
AND I HOPE YOU WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED EVEN THOUGH ALL OF YOU ON THE COUNCIL TODAY AND, AND, AND, AND MR. MAYOR, YOU HAVEN'T ALL BEEN HERE THE ENTIRE TIME THAT AUSTIN'S BEEN AROUND, BUT YOU HAVE BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE ALREADY HEARD THESE COMPLAINTS IN THESE CRIES AND HE'S CONCERNED.
AND SO I WANT TO LIFT UP THAT.
WHAT, IN THIS MOMENT, I FEEL LIKE APD IS THE BIG BULLY IN TOWN.
[01:50:02]
WE GET BEAT UP BY THE BULLY, WE GO TO THE PARENT'S HOUSE SAY, HEY, YOUR SON IS BEATING UP ON US.AND THE PARENTS SAY, OH, WELL, THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY SAID.
SO WE WERE GOING TO TRUST OUR KID.
THEN THE PARENTS OF THE CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN HARMED, THE PEOPLE IN THE PEOPLE CHARGED WITH REPRESENTING THE ONES WHO HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY HARMED BY THIS BULLY OR THESE BULLIES.
IF THEY'RE A FAMILY OF THEM, THEY'VE BEEN GO TO THE PARENTS AND SAY, HEY, PLEASE DO SOMETHING.
YOU KNOW, WE JUST THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE, PEOPLE ARE BITTER AND, AND THEY'RE JEALOUS, OR THEY'RE JUST TARGETING OURS.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVEN'T PROVED, LET US KNOW WELL TO YOU, THE COUNCIL, I SAY THERE IS AMPLE EVIDENCE.
WE HAVE EVERYTHING FROM A REPORT THAT THE CITY PAID FOR SAYING, APD HAS RACED THE TAIL TO PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING APD HAS DONE SINCE ITS INCEPTION, RIGHT? MANLY IS A CALVIN, A RACIST FIRE.
IF SPENCER CRONK IS NOT AVAILABLE, OR IT'S NOT UP TO THE JOB OF MANAGING APD, FIRE HIM, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE BUCK STOPS WITH THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
SO EARLY TODAY, WE TALKED ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THAT MONEY WENT INTO THE RIDE FUND.
AND I'M VERY GLAD THAT YOU VOTED FOR THAT 70 MILLION, BUT I NEED YOU TO KNOW THAT IF YOU WERE OKAY IN LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST DIRECTLY IMPACTED THAN YOU WILL LISTEN TO US NOW, WE'LL BE SAFE.
DO NOT APPROVE ANYTHING THAT PUTS MORE MONEY INTO THE HANDS OF APD, BECAUSE ALL THAT IS IS FINANCING A GROUP FULL OF BULLIES.
AND THEY ARE ALL BULLIES BECAUSE EVEN IF 10 OUT OF A THOUSAND ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE DONE WRONG, THE OTHER 990 COMPLICIT, BECAUSE THEY'VE DONE NOTHING BECAUSE THEY'VE STOOD BEHIND THAT BLUE LINE.
THEY HAVE COWARDLY CHOSEN NOT TO UPHOLD THE OATH TO WHICH THEY HAVE SWORN, BUT INSTEAD THEY WANT TO UPHOLD THEIR OWN SELF INTERESTS AND THEIR FRED CHILD TOXICALLY MALE EGO.
AND I KNOW THERE ARE WOMEN IN THE FOURTH SUIT, BUT INTERNALIZE THE FRESHMAN AS A THING.
SO I SIMPLY ASK THAT THE COUNSEL TO THE EIGHT DECIDE TO LISTEN TO HIS PEOPLE.
DON'T BE THE PARENTS THAT ALWAYS EXCUSED OR BULLY YOUR BELIEF.
YOU'RE BULLYING, YOU'RE BULLYING DAUGHTER.
INSTEAD, DO WHAT GOOD PARENTS DO.
CHILDREN RESTRICT THEIR ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND TAKE AWAY THEIR BLANK BLANK.
BECAUSE AS LONG AS YOU ALLOW THEM TO ADD THEIR TOYS, AS LONG AS YOU ALLOW THEM TO HAVE THEIR BUDGETARY ABILITY, AS LONG AS YOU ALLOW THEM TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO, WHEN THEY WRONG, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO WRONG US.
SO STOP FUNDING APD, AND PUT THE MONEY INTO HEALTHCARE WITH THE MONEY.
PUT THE MONEY INTO DIRECT CASH TRANSFER, PUT THE MONEY INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT ISN'T RESTRICTED FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE JUSTICE INVOLVED BY ALL MEANS.
I WOULD RATHER YOU THROW THE MONEY INTO THE DUMPSTER AND TO GIVE IT TO APD, BECAUSE AT LEAST I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT A DUMPSTER KILLING MYSELF OR MY SON.
THIS IS MARINA FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
JUST A QUICK STATEMENT TO THE COM SPEAKERS.
IF YOU HAVE NOT YET DIALED ZERO, PLEASE DO SO AT THIS TIME.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SHIVERS WATSON.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES SHIVERS WATSON.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS NITA DE BLASIO.
MY NAME IS NITSA AND I'M A CHILDCARE PROVIDER IN EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
UM, I AM HERE TO DISCUSS MY DISPROVAL OF HOW AUSTIN FUNDS ARE BEING USED WITH YOUTH TO WEAPONIZE AND, UM, AGAINST AUSTIN PUBLIC CITIZENS.
AS AN EDUCATOR, I'VE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE FEAR BUCK HAVE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND I CAN STILL REMEMBER EARLIER THIS SEMESTER WHEN ONE OF MY OLDER STUDENTS COME TO MY TEE SHIRT BECAUSE AN APD OFFICER WAS WALKING THROUGH HER HALLWAY AND SHE WAS SCARED AT THAT.
SHE BEGGED ME TO PROTECT THEM, AND THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED BLACK CANNOT
[01:55:01]
BLACK KIDS IN OUR CITY.SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE NEWS.
THEY RECOGNIZE THE SOUNDS OF FEAR AND PAIN AND HER PARENTS' VOICES.
THEN THEY'RE FORCED TO RECONCILE WITH THIS AND HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT GEORGE, GEORGE, FLOYD BEING MURDERED, AND THEN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY.
MICHAEL RAMOS BEING SHOT BY CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR OF APD WITH NO JUSTICE AND ONLY AT ATTEMPTS TO COVER IT UP TO SYSTEM FAILURE, TEACHERS, THE CYCLE OF FEAR AND RESENTMENT.
AND I'M HERE TO SAY NO MORE WITH EVERYBODY ELSE AT THE PROTEST.
SUNDAY, APD MOBILIZED BICYCLES TO FORCIBLY ASSAULT.
ONE OF MY GOOD FRIENDS BEFORE WE COULD EVEN REACH HER TO HELP A FORMER POLICE SWARM TURF.
OFFICER THREW HER TO THE GROUND.
AND THAT SAME DAY I WATCHED AS APD OFFICERS.
AIN'T NO NONLETHAL WEAPONS THAT HOSPITALIZED BRAD LIBER, ELENA AND JUSTIN HOWE AS CIVILIANS FROM ROOFTOPS TO SAY FROM THE CHAOS THEY WERE CREATING.
INITIALLY I HAD PLANNED TO BRING MY LITTLE SISTER TO SHOW HER THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I HOPED IT WOULD BE A BEAUTIFUL LESSON ON THE APARTMENT AND THE EMPOWERMENT OF STANDING UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, RECOGNIZING THAT AS A BLACK WOMAN, THERE IS A WHOLE COMMUNITY OF ALLIES.
WHO'LL STAND UP FOR HER WHEN SHE IS NEEDS, WHEN SHE NEEDS IT.
A MESSAGE IT'S RARELY SHARED WITH OUR BLACK YOUTH.
UM, I CAN SAY THAT I WATCHED FAMILIES WITH KIDS RUN FROM THE STREETS.
I FELT RELIEF THAT I DIDN'T BRING HER BECAUSE I HAD NEVER FELT SO UNSAFE IN AUSTIN.
A CITY THAT I'VE LIVED IN FOR 13 YEARS AND A YEAR END AT TWO 30, APD CHEER GAS.
MOST OF US STANDING IN FRONT OF APD AND THEY LAID HER, LIED TO THE MEDIA AND THE NEWS THING, BUT IT WAS JUST STASH OR SMOKE OR SMOKE BOMBS.
AND IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL TO THE PROTESTORS.
AS WE RAN FROM THE CHAOS, I HANDED PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY, WATER BOTTLES AND WASHCLOTH, AS WE DESPERATELY WASHED CHEMICALS FROM OUR MOUTH AND EYES.
AND THE ONLY THREAT WAS CAUSED BY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ARMED, WHICH WAS APD.
THIS IS WHY I'M ASKING YOU TO DEFUNDING PD.
I'M ASKING YOU TO REMOVE OFFICERS, BRIAN MANLEY, CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR, AND THE OFFICERS WHO USED UNNECESSARY FOR SOME CIVILIANS WHILE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, I FIND IT OPPRESSIVE, BUT BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS ALREADY STRUGGLED TO PAY FOR EMERGENCE.
REGULAR HEALTHCARE FOR APD AGGRESSION WAS $3 MILLION TO USE ON WEAPONS AND ITS OWN CITIZENS.
AND WE ASKING FOR JUSTICE THAT IS NOT A SOCIETY YOUR CHILDREN DESERVE.
AND I AM ASKING YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME OF 400 YEARS TO STAND UP BECAUSE BLACK LIVES DO MATTER.
AND WHAT YOU DO TODAY WILL REFLECT ON THE PROCESS OF HEALING THAT OUR COMMUNITY DESPERATELY NEEDS.
I HAVE MET MOST OF YOU IN PERSON, AND I SHOOK YOUR HANDS.
I'VE LOOKED YOU IN THE FACE, AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE REALLY GOOD INTENTIONS AT HEART.
SO THAT'S WHY I ASKED YOU TO STAND UP FOR MY LITTLE SISTER TO STAND UP FOR ME, TO STAND UP FOR MY MOM, TO STAND UP FOR THE PEOPLE I LOVE.
DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN ANYMORE.
AND ONLY YOU, IF WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING, YOU GUYS ARE THE ONES MAKING THE LAWS AND YOU GUYS HAVE, WE ARE BEING PAINTED AS VIOLENT WHEN WE'RE ASKING FOR MORE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS LISA BROWN.
MY NAME IS LISA BROWN AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT NUMBER NINE.
AND I'M SPEAKING OUT AGAINST ITEM SEVEN.
I'M A WHITE PERSON, AND I'M HERE SUPPORTING THE DEMANDS OF UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY, AUSTIN, GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP, AUSTIN JUSTICE, COALITION, AND OTHERS, UM, TO, UM, DEMAND THAT COUNCIL FIRE, CHIEF MANLEY, DEFUND AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND INVEST IN COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT WILL TRULY KEEP US SAFE.
UM, MY HEART GOES OUT TO THOSE WHO HAVE SHARED THE IMPACT OF THESE EVENTS ON THEM AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.
I SEE THE REST OF MY TIME TO DIRECTLY IMPACTED PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SHIVERS WATSON.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES SHIVERS WATSON.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DIANA HAGGERTY.
[02:00:09]
YES.AM I ABLE TO BE HEARD? DIANA HAGGERTY? GO AHEAD.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
SO MY NAME IS DIANA HAGGERTY AND I AM A PROUD HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT FIVE AND BUSINESS OWNER WITHIN STRYCHNINE.
BUT I ARRIVED TODAY AS A MOTHER, A ROLE LIFE SHARE WITH SEVERAL OF YOU ON THE COUNCIL.
AND I THINK YOU'LL AGREE THAT THE SACRED ROLE OF MOTHERHOOD WEAVES THREAD BETWEEN US THAT ARE VISCERAL AND WHEN A CHILD CALLS OUT FOR MAMA, WE ALL TURN OUR HEADS ON A CHILD IS HURT OR KILLED.
AND WE HEARD FROM SO MANY MOTHERS CHILDREN ALREADY TODAY, AND I AM THE MOTHER OF FOUR INCREDIBLE DAUGHTERS WHO I WILL DEFEND WITH MY LIFE AND THE POLICE RESPONSE TO THE PROTESTS HERE IN AUSTIN RENDERED ME CONFUSED AND HELPLESS AND TERRIFIED AS IT HAS SO MANY BLACK MOTHERS AND ALL MOTHERS OF COLOR AND COUNTLESS SITUATIONS.
MY HEART IS WITH THOSE MOTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR CHILDREN ABUSED, INJURED, AND KILLED AT THE HANDS OF POLICE THIS WEEKEND.
AND FOR SO MANY, MANY YEARS BEFORE THIS PAST WEEK IN AUSTIN HAS BROUGHT THOSE FEELINGS UNCOMFORTABLY, CLOSE TO HOME.
AS I HAVE FELT SAFE TO SEND MY TEENAGER ALONE TO NUMEROUS CIVIC ENGAGEMENTS.
AND I BROUGHT MY FAMILY TO NEARLY EVERY MARCH.
AUSTIN HAS SEEN SINCE I MOVED HERE IN 2007, AND I AM CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT THE FACT THAT RECENT EVENTS ARE SO SHOCKING TO ME AND TO SO MANY OF MY WHITE FEMALE COUNTERPARTS IS DUE TO PRIVILEGE.
THIS LEVEL OF POLICE BRUTALITY IS NOT SHOCKING TO OUR BLACK COUNTERPARTS IN AUSTIN, AS THEY HAVE HAD TO ENDURE NOT ONLY IN EQUITABLE TREATMENT AND OVER POLICING, BUT VIOLENCE AND ABUSE AT THE HANDS OF POLICE THAT ARE THERE TO PROTECT AND TO SERVE.
AND AS AN EAGLE MONTOYA SAID, YOU KEEP USING THAT WORD.
AND I DO NOT THINK IT MEANS WHAT YOU THINK IT MEANS.
AND SINCE THAT'S MOMS ARE SO EXCELLENT AT RESEARCH, AS WE ACT AS OUR FAMILIES, HEALTHCARE SPECIALISTS, PERSONAL ASSISTANTS, AND RISK MANAGERS, WE QUICKLY HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT THIS IS NOT NEW TO AUSTIN.
AND IN FACT IS FAR WORSE THAN WE COULD HAVE IMAGINED.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN HANGING OUT IN THE MOMS GROUPS LATELY, BUT BETWEEN OUR KIDS BEING HOME 24 SEVEN SINCE MARCH AND ARE SOCIALLY ENFORCED NEED TO FIX EVERYTHING.
WHITE, OFTEN MOTHERS ARE OVER IT.
WE WANT MORE FOR OUR CITY, FOR OUR CITIZENS AND NOT JUST WHITE CITIZENS.
WE DON'T WANT OUR CITY TO BE A PLACE WHERE WE CAN GO OUR WHOLE LIVES WITHOUT A MEANINGFUL INTERACTION WITH A PERSON OF COLOR.
AND WE ARE HERE TO DISCUSS THE EVENTS OF THIS WEEKEND, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE WATCHING AND WE ARE LISTENING.
AND I WOULD URGE NOT ONLY THE COUNCIL, BUT WHITE ALLIES TO MOVE OVER AND LET THESE BRAND AND CAPABLE BLACK COMMUNITY LEADERS SHOW US THE WAY WE ARE LISTENING TO OUR BLACK COUNTERPARTS AND THE BLACK LEADERS OF THIS MOVEMENT.
WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY AND WE'RE PREPARED TO ACT AS A HEART.
WRENCHINGLY ACCURATE STATEMENT REPLAYS OVER AND OVER IN MY MIND, ALL MOTHERS WERE SUMMONED WHEN GEORGE FLOYD CALLED OUT FOR HIS MAMA, I CLEARLY DO NOT SPEAK FOR ALL MOTHERS, BUT THIS MOTHER IS DEFERRING TO BLACK LEADERSHIP.
AND TO THE OFFICE FOR POLICE OVERSIGHT URGE YOU TO HEED THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS BROUGHT TODAY MAINTAIN AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT TO IMPLEMENT THAT.
CAN'T WAIT PROTOCOL TO DEFEND OUR BLACK LEADERS AND TO LISTEN TO THEIR VOICES FOR WHAT THEY SEE FIT AS WAYS TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE, TO FIRE THE OFFICERS, TO KILL MIKE RAMOS AND FOR A TOP DOWN CHANGE IN THE CULTURE, OFTEN POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT LEADS TO A SHIFT IN THE WAY OFTEN CITIZENS ARE PROTECTED AND SERVED AND MANLY.
IF YOU LOVE YOUR CITY AND YOUR DEPARTMENT, AS I THINK YOU DO, YOU'LL STEP ASIDE AND MAKE WAY FOR THE CHANGE THAT THIS COMMUNITY DESERVES.
MR. CRUMP, IF HE DOESN'T STEP ASIDE, I'D LIKE YOU TO PLEASE MAKE SURE HE DOES CITY COUNCIL.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS A MEAT PATEL.
SO I'M KIND OF LOCATED WITH A COUPLE OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE ME.
UM, I'VE PERSONALLY MADE A VERY CLEAR, COULD YOU CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO JASON ALEXANDER IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, THAT'S THE STOMACH POLICE ABUSE IS AN ISSUE.
I'VE HAD TO FACE IT AS A BRAND INDIVIDUALS IN THE CITY.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I COME FROM A PRIVILEGED FOR THEM.
MY PARENTS WERE FAIRLY WEALTHY, SO I'VE SET UP AND I FOUGHT FOR IT.
AND IN WHICH CASE I PERSONALLY MET WITH THE CITY MANAGER OR THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND SHOWED HIM DETAILED VIDEOS, RECORDING OF THIS ABUSE OF UNLAWFUL ORDERS BEING GIVEN IT WAS BLOWN OFF.
SO AT THIS POINT, ANYONE THAT DENIES THAT THIS HAS BEEN EXISTED, OR IT'S JUST COMING TO THE REALIZATION THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM.
[02:05:01]
SO IMMEDIATELY BE LET GO FOR GROWTH NEGLIGENT AS A TAXPAYER.I'D ALSO LIKE TO KNOW FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS THAT WE HERE, THIS HAS BEEN A FRAUDULENT EFFORT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE THAT'S IN COVERED UP.
SO WE'LL JUST COUNCIL BE RECOVERING OUR FUNDS.
AND WHAT WILL THOSE BE PLACED TOWARDS? THANK YOU.
HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
I LIVE IN THE SEVEN EIGHT SEVEN ZERO FOUR.
I JUST MOVED HERE FROM HARVARD LAW SCHOOL.
UM, I'M CALLING FOR A DEFUNDING OF THE POLICE AND INVESTMENT INTO THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
UM, BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE IN THE CITY NEED BETTER.
IT IS ABSURD THAT 40% OF AUSTIN'S BUDGET GOES TO POLICE.
AND NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A KIND OF A FREE MONEY SITUATION FOR THE GRANT.
UM, BUT RIGHT NOW PUBLIC HEALTH AND NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING RECEIVED 10% COMBINED.
UM, I, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU, UM, YOU KNOW, TRANSFER TO LIKE 20% OF THE POLICE BUDGET, UM, TO, UH, OR MORE, UM, TO, TO THIS AS LIKE, I FEEL LIKE A MEAGER ASK.
UM, AND THEN THE OTHER ASK THAT I HAVE IS THAT YOU, UM, PLEASE FIRE THOSE OFFICERS THAT KILLED MY KRONOS AND THAT YOU ALSO, UM, CONSIDER FIRING POLICE CHIEF BRIAN MANLEY, ASSISTANT CHIEF, TROY GRAY, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, RAY AUTO, UM, ARELLANO HAVE NOT DONE THEIR JOB AND KEEPING THIS COMMUNITY SAFE AND BRINGING ACCOUNTABILITY, UM, TO, UH, THESE COPS WHO'VE ABUSED THEIR POWER.
AS MANY HAVE MENTIONED EARLIER, UM, DEMANDING JUSTICE FROM MIKE RAMOS AND HIS MOTHER, BRENDA, UM, BLACK LIVES MATTER.
AND I'M GOING TO STEP OUT OF THE WAY FOR, UM, PEOPLE OF COLOR TO SHARE THEIR STORIES.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN COWARD.
HEY, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
I'M THE 10TH GRADE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT KIPP AUSTIN.
I'M CALLING TO SHARE ABOUT BRADLEY BY YELLOW AND SHARE MY CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.
I KNOW BRAD IS AN HONORS STUDENT AT OUR SCHOOL WHO TOOK ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES IN HISTORY.
I FIRST MET HIM IN AP WORLD HISTORY CLASS.
WHEN I HEARD HIM CALL OUT, MISS, IS THIS TRUE? OR IS THIS JUST WHAT Y'ALL WANT US TO LEARN ABOUT HISTORY? GRAD LOVES HISTORY.
AND WHEN HE WAS WALKING HOME THAT DAY AND SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, HE TOLD HIS MOM ON THE PHONE, I'LL BE HOME SHORTLY.
I WANT TO SEE HISTORY HAPPENING.
HE NEVER MADE IT HOME AND HE HASN'T BEEN HOME SINCE THEN.
CHIEF MANLEY SAID THE OFFICERS WHO SHOT DAD WORK WITHIN THE POLICY.
THAT'S THE POLICY TO SHOOT UNARMED, PEACEFUL CHILDREN.
AND THE HEAD IS THAT WHAT ALL OF YOU ARE SIGNING OFF ON RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE ADVER YOU URGED US NOT TO MAKE BAD TACTICS AND INDICTMENT ON THE INDIVIDUAL POLICE OFFICERS.
AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MR. MAYOR HARD DISAGREE.
THIS WAS NOT A CASE OF BAD POLICE TACTICS OR LACK OF TRAINING OR AN ACCIDENT.
THIS WAS INTENTIONAL CHIEF MANLEY, WHO ANSWER TO EDWIN EARLIER WAS COMPLETE AND ABSOLUTE GARBAGE.
HOW DARE YOU LISTENED TO A BREATHING BROTHER AND SPEW YOUR IDIOCY ABOUT WHAT IS WITHIN OR OUTSIDE THE POLICY POLICY.
YOUR OFFICER SOUGHT BRAD OUT AND SNIPERS HIM DOWN BECAUSE HE WANTED TO A 16 YEAR OLD BOY PEACEFULLY OBSERVING IN THE DISTANCE WE NEED ACTION.
WE NEED THE OFFICERS RESPONSIBLE, FIRED, AND CHARGED.
WE NEED CHIEF MANLEY FIRED AND WE NEED TO DEFUND FUND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW.
HE FUND THEM AND GIVE THAT MONEY TO OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
RAISE THE AUSTIN POLICE PENSION FUNDS AND USE THEIR MONEY TO PAY FOR BRAD AND JUSTIN HEALTH MEDICAL BILLS.
AND FOR MIKE RAMOS'S FUNERAL COSTS NO MORE PLATITUDES.
YOUR PRAYERS AND HOPES ARE NOT ENOUGH.
MIKE'S FAMILY NEEDS YOU AND OUR BLACK AND BROWN CITIZENS IN THE CITY NEED YOU TO ACT.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SHIVAAS WATSON.
PLEASE BE SURE THAT YOUR PHONE IS NOT NEEDED.
[02:10:04]
YES, PLEASE PROCEED.I SAT WITH ROCKLAND REPRESENTING A DISTRICT ONE AND ALL OTHER AFFECTED COMMUNITIES IN AUSTIN, DISTRICT THREE, DISTRICT SIX, DISTRICT TWO, UM, DISTRICT 10.
SO THAT MAKES ME IN DIRECT CORRESPONDENCE WITH SEVERAL OF YOU.
I APPRECIATE ANYONE WHO FINALLY SAYS TO BLACK LAWS.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU'VE LISTENED TO SEVERAL OF US WHO HAVE DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH APD AND PULL THEM OUT OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS A BLACK MAN.
I CAN'T SAY WITH ANY CERTAINTY THAT BLACK LIVES THAT MATTER BEFORE AS MANY CONFESS NOW THROUGH THIS UNDER OBSERVATIONAL, WE DEALT WITH TRIGGER-HAPPY OFFICERS IN APD AND UNDER GREG HAMILTON, THE SHERIFF, WE DEALT WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE I'M ON COUNTY OFFICES.
SO WHEN APRIL, 2018, WE AS COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, WE BEGGED YOU ALL TO HOLD A COMPREHENSIVE SEARCH FOR POLICE CHIEF, BUT WE WERE DENIED FOR THE EXISTENCE SHEET WHILE UNDER ACEVEDO'S LEAD OF A HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY'VE ACCOUNTED FOR 111 POLICE POLICE INITIATED SHOOTINGS AND 34 MOTORS.
SO APPLE SIGNED TOM MANNY'S $430 MILLION OPERATION HAS COVERED UP INVESTIGATIONS AND SIGNED MORE BOTTOMS. SO MAY APPROACH HIM CARS.
I HEARD YOU SAY BLACK LIVES MATTER.
AND IF WE WERE TO ANALYZE THE RESISTING ARREST CHARGES THAT HAVE BEEN FILED BY, UH, AS A RESULT OF A APD INTERACTION, YOU GAIN SCORES OF EXCESSIVE FORCE IN BRUTALITY, UH, BRUTALLY BRUTALITY THAT RECOLLECTIONS SEE BLACK LIVES ALSO MATTER WHEN A MAN LIKE GEORGE FLORIDA, MY GRANDMAS MAKE IT TO TRAVIS COUNTY JAIL AND HAVE TO ENGAGE IN AN INDIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP WITH LOCAL ATTORNEYS.
THAT WAS ONLY CONSEQUENCES THAT DENY REHABILITATION AND REENTRY, AND MORE THAN LIKELY LEAVE OFF THE NIGHTS WITH DOCUMENTED STAINS THAT PREVENT THEM FROM RESOLVING BASICALLY A BLACK LIFE DOESN'T MATTER YET TO THIS CITY.
AND IT'S REFLECTED IN FAIR CHANCE, HIRING AWARENESS AND ENFORCEMENT AND RESPONSES TO HOMELESS DECRIMINALIZATION.
UH, AND TO BE HONEST, UH, A BLACK LIFE HAS TO MATTER FOR SCALE AT THIS POINT.
AND I'M SAYING EVEN MORE THAN SIDEWALKS, BIKE LANES AND BARS, I'VE BEEN TO THE CITY IN 39, ALMOST 39% OF THE GENERAL FUND IN THE CURRENT BUDGET GOES TO A DEPARTMENT THAT WANTS TO HIRE MORE OFFICERS ONLY.
SO THEY CAN TEAR GAS AND ATTENTION TO MURDER MEDICAL PERSONNEL AND PEACEFUL GROUPS OF PEOPLE.
AND I THINK IT'S A, I THINK IT'S TIME TO CHANGE DIRECTIONS AND DISBAND INTERACTIONS WITH APD AND BY DEFUNDING THEM.
I THINK IT'S LARGELY INFLUENCED BY ME RECENTLY USING THE CITY'S BUDGET TOOL IN OBSERVING HOW MUCH IS DEDICATED TO PUBLIC HEALTH IN AUSTIN.
I THINK THE DISPARITIES THAT A CALL FROM AN INSTANT DEFUNDING, THOSE WHO I STAND WITH, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, COMMUNITIES IN WHICH I'VE LIVED IN, IN WHICH YOU REPRESENT THAT NEED RISE FROM ASSISTANCE AND OTHER ADVOCATES YOU HEAR TODAY.
I THINK WE'RE SEEKING FROM NOW ON TO COMMUNICATE TO YOU IN WAYS THAT ARE IMMEDIATE AND SKILLED AND DIVERSION OF FUNDS WHEN IT COMES TO APD AND OPERATION TO ACCOUNTABILITY, I'VE PERSONALLY TAKEN ON DOING RACISM WITH APD LEADERSHIP OUTSIDE OF MANLY.
AND I FELT THAT THESE WERE STILL UNSUCCESSFUL REASONS TO FUND A DEPARTMENT $430 MILLION WITHOUT MOVING AWAY FROM SUCH AN EXPENSIVE OPTION TO EVEN PUT HIS STAFF.
I THINK IT'S TIME TO LET SPECIFIC ONES GO OUT.
THANK YOU, BOTH EQUITY ADVOCATES ALREADY.
YOU'VE GOT AUSTINITES WITH EXPERIENCE FROM THIS PAST PAST WEEKEND THAT CAN TESTIFY BEFORE A GRAND JURY AND APD CULTURE THAT DEFIES EVEN CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
SO ALONG WITH DEMANDING AN IMMEDIATE 70 MILLION DIVERSION INTO THE RISE FUND FOR COVID-19 FAMILIES, WE ASKED FOR THE REMOVAL OF A LIST OF OFFICES AND OF MANLY MUCH LIKE, UH, MANY OF YOU MAYBE DIDN'T WANT CHARLIE STRONG AT UT.
YOU'RE AWARE THAT BECAUSE AFTER PARTICIPATED IN DIRECT PASS ACTIONS THAT BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN LONG BEEN IGNORED BECAUSE OF A NEGATIVE INVOLVEMENT WITH APD.
SO I SUPPORT CHRIS'S EARLY RECOMMENDATION TO DISBAND THE DEPARTMENT WITH THE MEDIA OF DENYING THE FUNDING, LIKE WHAT WE DISCUSSED EARLIER WITH ITEM SEVEN AND, AND SKIN YOU HOLD THE AUTHORITY TO RESOLVE THE CHANGE IN APD LEADERSHIP.
I'VE TAKEN A RACE THROUGH THEM WITH YOU AS WELL.
AND I AGREE WITH MASS ACCOUNTABILITY.
I THINK YOU'VE HEARD TWO'S TODAY, BUT LOOK AS A BLACK MAN UP IN HERE IN TEARS FOR YEARS, ALL BASED ON APD KILLING.
SO I THINK WE DO NEED TO MAKE AN INSTANT CHANGE AND WE WILL COME TO YOU WITH INITIATIVES, PROFESSIONAL ONES THAT I THINK CAN EXIST WITH, UH, WITH, UH, EFFORTS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE GROWN UP.
IF YOU'RE ON MUTE, PAUL, ADRIAN.
HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
I'M AN EIGHTH GENERATION TEXAN.
WE ATTENDED UT AUSTIN AND LATER THE HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL.
I WORKED TWO DECADES AS A BROADCAST JOURNALIST.
AND FOR THE LAST DECADE I'VE BEEN IN TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEUR WHO CO-FOUNDED LATIC HERE, A CLOUD
[02:15:01]
BASED VIDEO TRANSFER SOLUTION USED BY SOME OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST MEDIA COMPANIES.IN SHORT, I AM A PRIVILEGED WHITE GUY.
I WAS NOT AT THE PROTEST, BUT I DID SEE VIDEO ON THE NEWS THAT CANNOT BE UNSEEN OF AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS LINED UP SIDE BY SIDE, REPEATEDLY FIRING THEIR SHOTGUNS, BEING BAGS, LESS LETHAL ROUNDS, WHATEVER THAT IS, CHEER GUESTS.
I CAN'T STOP SEEING THOSE OFFICER'S SIDE BY SIDE SHOOTING.
I ALSO CAN'T STOP SEEING THE VIDEO OF 16 YEAR OLD BRAD AYALA STANDING BY HIMSELF ON THE EMBANKMENT, DOING NOTHING OTHER THAN DROPPING BY THE PROTEST TO SEE DEMOCRACY IN ACTION.
HIS BROTHER WHO TESTIFIED EARLIER, THE INJURIES THAT FEEL HOSPITALS DURING THE PROTEST WERE PREDICTABLE.
THEY HAPPENED BECAUSE THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT DRESSED ITS OFFICERS LIKE STORMTROOPERS AND SENT THEM TO A FREE SPEECH EVENT, ARMED WITH GUNS THAT WOULD BE AIMED AT AUSTINITES LIKE BRAD.
THE KEY ISSUE TO ME IS THAT APD THINKS IT IS OKAY FOR ITS OFFICERS TO TAKE GUNS TO A FREE SPEECH EVENT AT ALL.
AND THAT IT'S OKAY FOR THOSE OFFICERS TO USE THOSE GUNS ON AUSTINITES.
EVEN TODAY, YOU HEAR THIS IN THE EXPLANATIONS FROM THE POLICE CHIEF.
IT REMINDED ME OF THAT MARCH IN SELMA, WHERE THERE WAS UNDENIABLY A RIGHT SIDE AND A WRONG SIDE, A GOOD SIDE, AND A BAD SIDE, THAT BAD SIDE WAS ARMED WITH STICKS AND GUNS AND DOGS.
THE GOOD SIDE GOT INJURED, BUT CHANGE THE WORLD THIS WEEK.
APD PLAYED THE ROLE OF THOSE COPS AND SELMA THIS TIME, THE BLOOD OF THAT 16 YEAR OLD IS ON MY HAND AS AN AUSTIN VOTER AND A TAXPAYER.
AND I ACCEPT THAT RESPONSIBILITY, WHICH IS WHY I'M SPEAKING TODAY.
I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR ALL OF YOU AND FOR WHAT YOU DO TO GROW AND PROTECT THIS COMMUNITY.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INJURIES AT THAT PROTEST BECAUSE YOU HIRE THE CITY MANAGER WHO HIRES THE POLICE CHIEF, WHO AUTHORIZED THIS USE OF FORCE ON AUSTIN CITIZENS.
YOU APPROVED THE POLICE BUDGET THAT PAID FOR THOSE GUNS.
THE REMEDY IS TO SAY IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, THAT WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK IN AUSTIN WAS WRONG AND THAT IT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.
AND I BELIEVE YOU DO THAT BY REMOVING THE POLICE CHIEF FROM HIS JOB.
AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT BY REMOVING THE PERSON THAT YOU CAN REMOVE, THE CITY MANAGER, SHOOTING CIVILIANS IS WRONG, AND IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AND YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE DIRECT ACTION TO ENSURE THAT EVERY POLICE OFFICER KNOWS THAT THEY SHOULD NEVER EVER AIM ANY GUN EXERCISING, THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, WHICH BE HERE.
DID YOU HEAR THE BUZZER AT THAT TIME? OKAY.
UM, I'M GOING TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN OPPOSING VIEWS.
UH, FIRST OFF, I WANT TO SAY I WAS BORN IN AUSTIN.
I AM ACTUALLY DID ENDURE POLICE BEING OVERBEARING TO ME PERSONALLY IN THE EIGHTIES.
I HAD GUNS DRAWN ON ME WITH MY BABY IN THE CAR IN A STATION WAGON.
UM, SO I, I FELT WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE.
UM, ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS, UM, RAN FOR OFFICE AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN.
SO JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, I AM GOING TO SAY THAT I DON'T THINK THAT YOU SHOULD DEFEND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'M SAYING THAT BASED ON, UH, HERE, MORE TRAINING NEEDS TO BE IMPLEMENTED.
THERE'S A SHORT DIP OFF OFFICERS.
I HEAR ALL THE TIME THAT APE CANNOT PATROL NEIGHBORHOODS THAT CAN'T RESPOND TO.
AND THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS RETIRING OR RESIGNING EXCEEDS THE NUMBER WHO ARE GRADUATING.
THEY HAVE A DELAYED RESPONSE TO PROPERTY CRIMES.
IF THEY RESPOND AT ALL, THEY TAKE OFFICERS FROM ASSIGNED SECTORS ON AN ONGOING BASIS TO PUT THEM IN OTHER SECTORS, WHEEZING, EVERY SECTOR IN TOWN, SHORT OF THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF OFFICERS REQUIRED.
THEY REQUIRE BACKUP BY OTHER AGENCIES.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO RETURN TO COMMUNITY POLICING.
THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS TO DO THAT IS WHAT I'M CONSTANTLY TOLD.
I DON'T WANT TO LIVE WITH AREAS OF TOWN BEING BOARDED UP.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT HAS TO BE THE CASE.
[02:20:02]
A YEAR AGO, CHIEF MANLEY WAS HAILED AS A HERO CITIES ALL OVER TOWN, WANTED HIM TO COME TO WORK FOR THEM.PRIOR TO THESE PROTESTS, THERE WAS A TRIBUNAL.
THAT'S WHAT THEY CALLED THAT A SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP CALLS FOR A TRIBUNAL ON CHASE MAN LIGHTS.
I SEE HIM AS THE VOICE OF CALM AND REASON.
I THINK HIS SENSITIVITIES REFRESHING.
I THINK HE'S HORRIFIED BY SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED THIS WEEKEND.
HE'S NOT THE FIRST CHIEF TO HAVE PEOPLE CRITICIZE HIM.
ART INNOVATIVE WAS CRITICIZED BEFORE HE LEFT AUSTIN.
YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO FIND THE PERFECT PERSON.
I THINK YOU NEED TO WORK WITH CHIEF MANLEY.
I WANT TO ASK WHAT ABOUT INJURIES TO COPS? IT'S TERRIBLE THAT THERE WERE INJURIES TO ANYBODY, BUT WHAT ABOUT INJURIES TO COPS? I DON'T HEAR ANYBODY ASKING ABOUT THAT.
I THINK PROTECTING THE CITIZENS AND YOUR FIRST RESPONDERS NEEDS TO BE YOUR NUMBER ONE JOB, NO NEIGHBORHOOD, VERY FEW NEIGHBORHOODS CAN AFFORD TO HIRE PRIVATE SECURITY.
I KNOW A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS ARE FEELING LIKE THEY NEED TO.
NOW I KNOW MY NEIGHBORHOOD CAN'T AND WE'RE IN BAKER SECTOR.
AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING I THINK THE SECTORS NEED TO BE SMALLER.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE WITH THE TRAFFIC IN AUSTIN.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE POLICE TO EVEN ANSWER CALLS.
THAT'S BEEN ON THE NEWS CONSTANTLY.
I HOPE THAT YOU'LL CONSIDER SOME OF WHAT I'VE SAID.
I'VE BEEN ASKED TO HELP, UH, LET SPEAKERS KNOW WHEN THEIR BUZZER AS WRONG.
I'M GOING TO TRY AND START TO TRY DOING THAT.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MOLLY MALONE.
UM, I'M HERE TO DISCUSS, UH, TODAY'S HEARING ABOUT, UH, DEFUNDING THE POLICE.
UM, THE REASON BEING IS BECAUSE AS EVERYONE HAS INDICATED HERE TODAY THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN TACTICS, CERTAIN THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN TRIED IN THE PAST, OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND THOSE ITEMS ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL.
SO IN MY OPINION, I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE START DEFUNDING THE POLICE AND PUTTING THOSE RESOURCES TOWARDS OTHER PROGRAMS WITHIN THE CITY THAT CAN HELP CREATE CHANGE IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
AS PEOPLE HAVE DISCUSSED TODAY IN PUBLIC HEALTHCARE, UM, ALSO IN, UM, PUBLIC HOUSING AND OTHER AREAS AROUND MENTAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH CARE, UM, HELPING RESOURCES AND NEEDS AND REALLY GOING THROUGH AND REALIZING THAT ON A CONSISTENCY OF, OF CRISIS AND COMMUNITY, IT'S VERY, VERY HARD FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE THE LIVES THAT THEY ARE INTENDED TO LIVE.
SO, UM, I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT TODAY AND I WILL DEFER THE REST OF MY TIME TO OTHER FOLKS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEXANDRIA HART.
UM, I'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH A THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN HARPER, MADISON, I'M VERY, VERY PROUD TO LIVE IN YOUR DISTRICT.
UM, MY NAME IS ALEX HEART AND I'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN FOR EIGHT YEARS AND EVERY YEAR WHEN THE ANNIVERSARY OF MOVING HERE, COACHES, I LIKE TO WONDER IF I QUALIFY AS AN AUSTINITE YET NEEDING AN OFF NIGHT TO GET SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE BOTH APPRECIATIVE AND PROUD OF.
AND WHILE THERE'VE BEEN MANY DAYS SINCE THE 2016 ELECTION THAT I'VE BEEN ASHAMED AT THE END OF AMERICANS, I'VE NEVER FELT SHAME IN REGARDS TO AUSTIN UNTIL NOW AS THE PROTEST STARTED, IT SEEMED AS THOUGH OUR POLICE FORCE WOULD NOT BEHAVE IN THE BRUTAL AND DESPICABLE MANNER THAT WE'VE SEEN ON SCREEN AND REPLAYING IN OUR HEADS SINCE THE MURDER OF GEORGE
IT WAS NAIVE TO THINK THAT OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY IS IN ANY WAY, IMMUNE TO THE DEEP SEATED RACISM THAT PLAGUES OUR COUNTRY.
WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE JUSTIN, HOW MAY DIE? 16 YEAR OLD LEVI YALA IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION.
A BLACK PREGNANT WOMAN WAS SHOT IN THE BELLY.
NONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS POSED A THREAT TO THE OFFICERS AND ALL OF THIS WAS DONE AT THE HANDS OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ALSO NO SURPRISE THAT EACH PERSON I'VE MENTIONED HERE, IT'S A PERSON OF COLOR BEFORE THESE INDIVIDUALS EXERCISING, THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS WAS EXCESSIVE AND IT'S CRIMINAL.
[02:25:01]
COURAGE AND COMPASSION, NO ADDRESSING THE WRONGDOINGS OF APD AND FOR MYSELF, FELLOW LATINOS, OH, THAT'S A MENTALHERE WE COME BACK TO YOU ON THE, AFTER THE FIRE, THE OFFICERS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE CRIMES, CHARGED THEM FOR CRIMINAL ACTION AND DO IT IMMEDIATELY THEN REQUIRE ALL OFFICERS TO GO THROUGH IMPLICIT BIAS TESTING.
I DO NOT PUT OFFICERS IN THE FIELD WHO ARE A DANGER TO OUR COMMUNITY REQUIRE WARNINGS BEFORE SHOOTING REQUIRES DEESCALATION BEFORE SHOOTING MAKES YOU TO HAVE AN ABSOLUTE LAST RESORT ADOPT EIGHT COUNT WAIT, WHICH HAS BEEN PROVEN TO DECREASE POLICE VIOLENCE, REQUIRE OFFICERS TO PROTECT AND SERVE, NOT POLICE AND MURDER.
FULL-STOP LASTLY, TAKE SOME OF THE 400 PLUS MILLION TAXPAYER DOLLARS ALLOCATED TO THE APD AND USE THAT MONEY TO HELP HEAL OUR COMMUNITY, PROVIDE BETTER HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR THAT'S THE MEDICAL SERVICES AND HOMELESSNESS THAT ALSO DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS PEOPLE OF COLOR.
THE POLICE ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW AND IT'S YOUR JOB TO PROVE THAT NOW PROVE TO US THAT AUSTIN IS ACTUALLY A HOME WE CAN BE PROUD OF.
PLEASE ACT NOW AND TAKE NO HALF MEASURES.
AND ACTION WILL CAUSE MORE SUFFERING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH BEEN INFLICTED UPON THE BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITY, ALL OF THE MINORITY COMMUNITY FOR FAR TOO LONG.
I REALLY HOPE THE COUNCIL SEES THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SET A NATIONAL STANDARD.
IT STARTS HERE WITH YOU AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IF IT DOESN'T START WITH YOU, THERE WILL SOON BE SOMEONE ELSE IN YOUR CHAIR WILLING TO LET THE THINGS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
PLEASE REMEMBER HARPER MADISON.
I JUST LIKE TO GIVE A MOMENT TO ADDRESS THAT LAST FIGURE.
NOT JUST BECAUSE SHE'S A
AND I THINK AS WE MOVED THROUGH THIS, RIGHT, I WANT TO BE, Y'ALL HAVE TO FORGIVE ME.
I'M GOING TO TRY MY BEST ALL DAY TO LIKE COMPOSE MYSELF.
SO, UM, I THINK WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS, UM, THE THING THAT SHE SAID THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE, THAT EVERYBODY CAN APPRECIATE, UM, SHE TALKED ABOUT CIVIL ENGAGEMENT, CIVIC, RATHER ENGAGEMENT.
SO THESE THINGS THAT ARE MAKING US ALL SO VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, RIGHTFULLY UNCOMFORTABLE.
I MEAN, TO THE POINT WHERE I'M, I'M USING MY CAMERA AS OFTEN AS I CAN.
CAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE ME CRY.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE ME WIPING MY NOSE.
AND YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY ON THE LINE.
WHO'S TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH US TO THINK THAT IF WE KNEW IT OURSELVES ON CAMERA, THAT WE'RE NOT LISTENING TO YOU MORE OFTEN THAN NOT.
IT'S A MATTER OF US JUST TRYING TO REMAIN PROFESSIONAL AND COMPOSED.
UM, I APPRECIATE THAT, THAT LAST SPEAKER, THE THING THAT THEY DID ABOUT GETTING CIVICALLY ENGAGED, UM, I DON'T OFTEN GET THESE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS MOMENT.
YOU GOT TO GET ENGAGED CIVICALLY.
YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE REGISTERED TO VOTE.
YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE PREPARED TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS, NOT EVEN FROM THE MUNICIPAL PROCESS, BUT LIKE, AS IT MOVES INTO WHO GOVERNS US, UM, JUST ONE QUICK MOMENT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, PLEASE GET ENGAGED.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, IF YOU'RE CONCERNED, IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT, FIND US, Y'ALL KNOW HOW TO FIND OUR EMAIL ADDRESSES.
LIKE WHEN, WHEN YOU WANT TO YOU FIND US.
SO PLEASE FIND US IF THIS IS A MOMENT WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED ANYTHING IN THE WAY OF GUIDANCE, ABOUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD IN A WAY THAT WE CAN HELP YOU.
CALCULATED AND INTENTIONAL DECISIONS ABOUT WHO YOU VOTE FOR.
WE HAVE TWO MORE SPEAKERS THAT ARE SPEAKING FOR THREE MINUTES EACH AND WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER 300 SPEAKERS THAT ARE SPEAKING FOR A MINUTE EACH.
UM, IT'S GONNA TAKE US PROBABLY, UM, UH, FIVE AND A HALF, SIX HOURS.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL THE LAST TWO SPEAKERS AT THREE MINUTES.
WE'RE STILL ANTICIPATING TAKING A BREAK ABOUT SIX O'CLOCK.
NEXT SPEAKER IS SUMMER MANSFIELD.
[02:30:06]
HI.I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN ON, I AM JUST SO MANAGE YOUR CHRONIC.
WHAT MORE EVIDENCE DO YOU NEED TO SEE THAT OFTEN I DO NOT APPROVE OF OUR POLICE LEADERSHIP THAT OUR POLICE LEADERSHIP HAS FAILED MASSIVELY ASSISTANT CHIEF, JUSTIN NEWSOME WAS OPENLY RACIST.
HE ADMITTED THIS TO CHIEF MANLY, MANLY FAILED TO FIRE HIM.
THIS ALONE IS GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL PERIOD.
THE ACCOUNTS OF POLICE ACTIONS WE HAVE HEARD HERE TODAY, CERTAINLY GIVE CREDENCE TO THE PERCEPTION THAT ALL COPS ARE BAD COPS, BUT I WANT TO PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE FOR A MINUTE.
YOUR FAILURES HAVE NOT ONLY NEGATIVELY IMPACTED THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
YOU HAVE PUT YOUR OWN OFFICERS IN DANGER AS A BYPRODUCT.
IF THE COMMUNITY IS ANGRY, THEY WILL TAKE IT OUT ON THE POLICE.
AS WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE COURSE OF EVENTS THIS WEEKEND, NOT ONLY WERE THE OFFICERS PHYSICALLY ABUSED, THEY WERE MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY DEGRADED AS SUCH.
IT STANDS TO REASON AS HUMAN NATURE DICTATES THAT THESE OFFICERS UNLESS TREATED PROPERLY TO GO ON TO HARBOR, EVEN GREATER FEAR AND RESENTMENT OF THE COMMUNITY, THEY ARE TO PROTECT THEREFORE IN ORDER TO KEEP PEACE AND COME TOGETHER, CITIZENS AND POLICE FORCE, WE MUST FRESH FROM A PLACE OF MUTUAL RESPECT AND TRUST.
AND THAT IS GOING TO BE HARD TO DO SHE'S FAMILY.
I WISH YOU PEACE AND FORGIVENESS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SAVANNAH JONES.
HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND COUNCIL, WOMAN HARPER, MADISON FOR CALLING OUT CHIEF MANLEY.
I'M NOT BEING FULLY PRESENT BY HAVING A CAMERA ON IN THIS MEETING WHEN THIS IS ALL HAPPENING BECAUSE OF HIM AND HIS POLICE FORCE.
I AM A LONGTIME RESIDENT AND I AM SPEAKING IN REGARDS TO APD TACTICS OF CROWD CONTROL OVER THE WEEKEND.
AND WHAT IS BEING DONE TO EXPEDITE THE OPEN INVESTIGATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE ATTACKS ON BRAD, ELLA AND MULTIPLE OTHER VICTIMS. JERRY, HOW A PEACEFUL PROTEST AS YOU KNOW, A MINOR BY THE NAME OF BRAD ALA WAS STANDING ALONE DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
AND WHILE IT IS SAFE, DISTANCE FROM THE CROWD WAS STRUCK DOWN VIA A HEADSHOT BY LESLIE.
SO AMMUNITION, ANOTHER VICTIM, JUSTIN, HOW A 20 YEAR OLD BLACK MALE RECEIVED A HEADSHOT.
WELL, ODDLY STANDING BY AND THERE WERE REPORTS IN WHICH HE WAS BEING CARRIED AWAY BY A TEAM OF MEDICS UPSTAIRS, CONTINUED TO SHOOT IT WITH RUBBER BULLETS AND BEAN BAGS, ATTACKING INNOCENT PROTESTERS AS SUCH AS COMPLETELY ABSURD AND CRIMINAL.
WHAT STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO FIND THEIR ATTACKERS? AND WHEN SOUNDS, WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE? ANOTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS IS THERE NEEDS TO BE A DISCUSSION AND ERADICATING THE USE OF RUBBER BULLETS AND BEANBAGS FOR CROWD CONTROL IN OUR CITY.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO NEED FOR THE EXTREMITIES OF LESS LETHAL AMMUNITION.
LUCKILY, SO, I MEAN, I SHOULDN'T HAVE CAUSED MULTIPLE INJURIES, INCLUDING BRAD ALA WHO HAD TO UNDERGO NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY, SURGERY AND REMAINS IN INTENSIVE CARE.
ALSO A WOMAN BY THE NAME OF TARA NIKA.
MARTIN WAS SHOT IN THE ABDOMEN AND BACK MULTIPLE TIMES AS SHE RAN FOR COVER.
AND IT TURNS OUT THAT SHE WAS PREGNANT.
AND ALTHOUGH IT IS REPORTED BY HER HUSBAND, THAT THEIR BABY IS OKAY, THAT IT'S POSSIBLE TO CHANGE.
THIS FORM OF CROWD CONTROL IS SUPPOSED TO BE ADMINISTERED BELOW THE WAIST ONLY TO AVOID SERIOUS INJURIES AS SUCH THE OFFICERS HAVE DISPLAYED THAT THEY ARE NOT CAPABLE OF USING THIS METHOD RESPONSIBLY.
AND WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN IT IS? YES.
WHAT IS TO BE DONE WITH SOMEONE WHO CAN'T USE THINGS RESPONSIBLY? THEY HAVE IT TAKEN AWAY.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE CHIEF MANLEY REPLACED BY SOMEONE WHO IS COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT.
THE FACT THAT HE IS UNWILLING TO REALLY TAILOR THE FOOTAGE FROM THE CAMERAS ON THE FRONT LINE AND SIT AND SIT IN FRONT OF THE CITY AND LIE ABOUT THE EVENTS THAT TRANSPIRED IS A COMPLETE DISGRACE.
HAVING SOMEONE LIKE HIM RUNNING THE FORCE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO SERVE AND PROTECT US.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF MIKE LLAMAS MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
WE NEED YOU TO STAND FOR US AS LEADERS AND WHAT CITIZENS AND ASSESSED CITIZENS OF THIS WONDERFUL CITY BRING JUSTICE TO THE VICTIMS OF PROTESTS AND HOLD THE CRIMINALS OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE ACTS OF VIOLENCE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO TO SPEAKERS SPEAKING ONE MINUTE.
EACH I WILL TELL EVERYONE ON THE LINE THAT I'LL PROBABLY DO THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK AROUND SIX O'CLOCK FOR DINNER.
IF YOU'RE ONLINE AND ON THE PHONE, DON'T HANG UP.
CAUSE YOU'LL LOSE YOUR PLACE IN LINE.
WHEN WE TAKE THE BREAK, WE'LL SAY WHAT TIME WE'RE COMING BACK.
BUT IF YOU'RE ON THE LINE AND HAVEN'T BEEN CALLED, DON'T HANG UP AS YOUR LOSE YOUR PLACE.
YOU'D CALL THE FIRST ONE MINUTE SPEAKER PLACE AND
[02:35:02]
YES, GO AHEAD.DO YOU WANT RESIDENTS BY SHARE THE HISPANIC QUALITY OF LIFE CONDITION? I WAS A PEACEFUL COLCHESTER ON SUNDAY AND WAS SHOT AND CHEERED OUT BY APD PEOPLE NEXT TO ME WERE VOMITING AND PASSING OUT AND STILL GETTING SHOT AT.
SO I'LL TRY TO REGAIN THEIR BREASTS.
I WAS HIT ON THE HEAD WITH THE SO CALLED DOG PEOPLE.
WELL, HE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT I AM OKAY BECAUSE I WAS WEARING A HELMET.
I WORE A HELMET BECAUSE I EXPECTED THAT APD APD, MY, SHE HAD TO HEAR THAT AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WEEKEND INNOCENT PEOPLE WERE BRUTALIZED BY THE POLICE CITY, HOW MUCH BLOOD NEEDS TO BE FILLED IN.
SO YOU GET A BETTER SENSE OF CLOCK.
YOUR STATEMENT YESTERDAY SAID OUR CHIEF OF POLICE IS COMMITTED.
IT'S SOMEBODY WHO SENT A LETTER TO 10 PACKS AND TRYING TO EXONERATE THE OFFICER WHO KILLED MICHAEL RAMOS, CHIEF OF POLICE THAT IS COMMITTED TO SOMEONE WHO FOR A WEEK REFUSED TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE APDS, RACIAL DISPARITIES AND SEARCHES AND ARRESTS, A SERIOUS ISSUE.
THE CHIEF OF POLICE THAT IS COMMITTED.
IT'S SOMEONE WHO PUBLICLY STATED THAT THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH APD THAT IS COMMITTED.
NEXT SPEAKER, CASSIE MATTHEWS.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE AND I KNOW ONE MINUTE IS NOT SUFFICIENT TIME FOR ANYBODY TO BE ABLE TO REALLY SPEAK.
SO YOU GET TO PICK ONE, PROBABLY ONE REALLY IMPACTFUL THOUGHT, BUT YOU DO HAVE ONE MINUTE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE LISTENING TO SPEAKERS TILL ABOUT MIDNIGHT.
I'M A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CALL ATTENTION WITH GLARINGLY OBVIOUS RACIAL DISPARITIES AND INJUSTICES HELD BY THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AS EVIDENCE IN THE HANDLING TWO PROTESTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.
ONE BEING THE INFO WARS PROTESTS, WHICH WERE LARGELY WHITE CITIZENS AND THE OTHER BEING THE PROTESTS IN THE RECENT WEEK REPRESENTED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR AND ARE UKRAINE AND THE OPPRESSION OF PEOPLE OF COLOR APD, YOUR RACIST PRINCIPLES AND YOUR FEAR OF THE RISING UP OF PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE ON GRAND DISPLAY.
AUSTIN CITIZENS ARE WATCHING YOU.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THE NAME OF SARAH NIKA.
I HOPE I PRONOUNCED THAT RIGHT? WHEN YOU KNOW MARTIN, ONE MORE TIME, WHO WAS SHOT IN THE BACK WHILE I WAS PREGNANT AND ATTEMPTING TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST.
I AM DEMANDING THE RESIGNATION OF CHIEF MANLY AND THE OFFICERS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE MURDER OF MIKE LLAMAS.
MCGARIGGLE YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
I WAS DOWN IN PROTESTS ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
UH, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A MUCH LARGER ISSUES HERE.
I'M GOING TO COME TO MY POINT.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY MUCH LARGER ISSUES HERE, BUT I'M HERE TO SUGGEST A RESOLUTION FOR HOW PROTESTS ARE MANAGED AND HAVE A CONSTRAINT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, INSTEAD OF SPENDING MONEY ON, RIGHT, YOUR TEAR GAS, ANOMALIES WEAPONS.
I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE START A NEW CITY FUNDED DEPARTMENT OF MEDIATION AND CROWD CONTROL WITH THE RIGHT TRAINING AND TACTICS.
THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR BEANBAGS AND TEAR GAS.
UH, IT'S JUST SILLY THAT THE POLICE ARE IN CHARGE OF A, OF A PROTEST AGAINST THE POLICE THERE.
IT'S LIKE YOU'RE BEGGING FOR CONFRONTATION.
UH, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD USE A POLICE FORCE SHOULD BE USED TO COMBAT VIOLENT CRIMINALS AND THAT'S ALL THE DEPARTMENT OF MEDIATION AND CROWD CONTROL WOULD BE ALSO USEFUL ON WEEKENDS ON SIXTH STREET FESTIVALS, ET CETERA.
AND WITH THE RIGHT TRAINING WOULD CUT DOWN ON RACIALLY MOTIVATED POLICE VIOLENCE IN PROFILE.
THE FACT THAT SHE WAS PUT DOWN THE TRAUMA THAT HE'S CAUSED TO HIS, IT WAS OFFICERS THAT, I MEAN, JUST THE TOUR MANAGEMENT AND THE TRAUMA THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE ALL THESE, THE POLICE OFFICERS AS WELL.
MY MESSAGE IS JUST GOING TO BE DIRECTED TOWARDS
[02:40:01]
THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CHIEF BRIAN MANLEY.I'M A COLLEGE STUDENT AND I'M HERE TO SAY THAT I'M EXTREMELY DISGUSTED BY HOW YOU TREATED PROTESTORS THESE PAST FEW DAYS.
SAY YOUR JOB IS TO SERVE AND PROTECT US, BUT THE ONLY PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE PROTECTING US WERE THE MEDICS AND Y'ALL WERE EVEN SHOOTING THEM.
WE HAD TO DEPEND ON EACH OTHER FOR TREATING INJURIES.
WHEN YOU GUYS SHOT RUBBER BULLETS AND TEAR GAS AND MACED US AND BEAT US WITH BATON PERSONALLY, AT ONE PROTEST, I WAS COVERING AND PROTECTING A BLACK WOMAN WITH FOUR OTHER PEOPLE WHO Y'ALL MAY SMILE.
SHE GOT HER EYES FLUSHED OUT WHEN APD OFFICERS STORMED US.
EVEN AFTER WE SCREAMED THAT WE WERE HELPING AN INJURED PERSON, ONE OF THE OFFICERS YELLED BACK WELL, THEN PICK HER UP AND LEAVE FIVE SECONDS BEFORE THEY ALL BARRELED INTO US, BEATING THE PEOPLE AROUND ME WITH THE BATON, PUSHING US WITH SHIELDS AND ME PERSONALLY GETTING PEPPER SPRAYED IN MY EYES.
AND I RAN AWAY BLIND ME BLINDLY.
WHILE YOU GUYS STARTED FIRING RUBBER BULLETS, INDISCRIMINATELY AT ANYONE, YOU COULD SEE SHE FINALLY, HOW CAN YOU SIT UP THERE AND YOUR OFFICE WITH YOUR FACE AND CLAIM YOUR OFFICERS? GREAT JOB AT THE PROTEST WHEN HE WAS EVERYWHERE OF APD COMMITTING BRUTALITY AGAINST A CIVILIAN FOR PRACTICING ITS FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
THIS IS WHAT THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF STILL THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING NEXT SPEAKER, JUSTIN GULLIES.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO VOICE MY CONCERN AND ANGER OVER THE WAY PROTESTERS WERE TREATED LAST WEEKEND BY THE APD, THE POLICE TOOK AN OATH TO DEFEND AND SERVE THE PUBLIC SHOOTING KIDS, PREGNANT WOMEN OR ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER DOES NOT FIT WITHIN THAT OATH.
I'M ASKING FOR AN OPEN AND INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO HOW THIS HAPPENED AND HOW IT CAN BE PREVENTED IN THE FUTURE.
I'M ASKING THAT YOU REMOVED CHIEF MANLEY, WHOSE LEADERSHIP ALLOWED THAT TO HAPPEN.
I'M ASKING THAT YOU INVESTIGATE THE KILLING OF MY COOLNESS.
I'M ALSO ASKING THAT YOU DELAY THE CURRENT CADET CLASS TO IMPLEMENT TRAINING REFORM.
I'M ASKING THAT ALL OF YOU PROPOSE AND PASS POLICIES THAT DAN SHOW CALLED AND STRANGLE HOPES REQUIRE THAT OFFICERS DEESCALATE SITUATIONS FIRST, BEFORE THE USE OF FORCE DAN, THE SHOOTING AT MOVING VEHICLES AND REQUIRE OFFICERS TO FILE COMPREHENSIVE REPORTS AFTER THE USE OR THREATENED TO USE FORCE AGAINST THE CIVILIAN.
I ALSO ASK THAT YOU DEFUND THE APD.
IF YOU DO NOT VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE PEOPLE AND CREATE POLICIES IN OUR INTERESTS, WE WILL VOTE YOU OUT.
UM, I'M JUST HERE TO SAY THAT THE FUNDS MAKING UP THE CRIMINAL BLOATING POLICE BUDGET MUST BE REALLOCATED.
WE HAVE TO STOP SEEKING A SOLUTION TO CRIME THAT ASSUMES THAT THE EXISTENCE OF A GIVEN AND INSTEAD FOCUS ON REDIRECTING THAT MONEY INTO NEGLECTED COMMUNITIES, ELIMINATING THE CONDITIONS THAT LEAD TO CRIME RATHER THAN CONDITIONING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO RESORT TO CRIME AND CONDEMNING THEM THROUGH A CYCLE OF IMPRISONMENT AND VICTIMIZATION OF THE POLICE.
IN THIS CASE, IN THE PANDEMIC, WE SHOULD USE THESE FUNDS, CUSSING THE POLICE BUDGET OR RENT SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WHO BE EVICTED STARTING WITH JUNE 1ST, AS WELL AS AN IMMEDIATE REVERSAL OF ANY EVICTIONS STARTED ON JUNE 1ST.
IN ADDITION, CHIEF MANLEY MUST BE REMOVED FROM HIS POSITION IMMEDIATELY IS CLEARLY CONDONED AND AUTHORIZED VIOLENT BEHAVIOR AGAINST PEACEFUL PROTESTORS.
AND I'M GOING TO SAY THIS DIRECTLY TO YOUTUBE MANLY, YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY TOO MANY WITNESSES TO THE VIOLENCE.
THIS LAST WEEKEND, THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DOWNPLAY THE ACTIONS OF APB AND MAKE UP STORIES TO JUSTIFY THE VIOLENCE RETROACTIVELY.
I E THE BACKPACK STORY TO JUSTIFY SHOOTING JUST IN HOW PEOPLE WERE THERE.
YOU RIDE ANY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED FINANCIALLY BY POLICE UNION, POLITICAL CAREERS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY AND DONATE TO LOCAL DOLLARS BEFORE PREVIOUSLY MENTORING INJURED.
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING NEXT SPEAKER, SHANE JOHNSON.
UM, ONE THAT'S HOW MUCH TIME CHANGE ANTHONY CAN PRONOUNCE IN DISTRICT THREE AGAINST PRIDE AND SEVEN.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE NICE WORDS, MOSTLY ALL SET IN YOUR INTRODUCTION.
I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THEM UNTIL I ACTUALLY SEE THEM INTO PRACTICE, PUT INTO PRACTICE.
I'VE BEEN DOING THIS BOOK FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS.
AND AS A BLACK MAN, I HAVEN'T HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF NOT REALIZING HOW BRUTAL AND WHY AND HOW MUCH APD COULD ACT LIKE THE FEMINIST CULTURE AND AUSTIN, AS A BARE MINIMUM, YOU SHOULD INSTITUTE ALL OF THE EIGHT PRIMARY POLICE, DEESCALATION TACTICS THAT CAMPING GEAR AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE PUT OUT.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY ABSURD THAT AP
[02:45:01]
DOESN'T HAVE TO DO THINGS LIKE DEESCALATE OR DO OTHER METHODS BEFORE SHOOTING AT PEOPLE.AND I'M A FIRE CHIEF MAMMALS, FIRE, ATB, CHIEF OF STAFF, TROY GAYE, FIRE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, RAY ARIANO, WHO PERSONALLY DRAGGED HIS FEET AND, AND TRIED TO SLOW DOWN THE CREASE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
I PROGRAM A PROGRAM THAT IT HADN'T BEEN IMPLEMENTED.
PEOPLE ASK ME WOULD BE MURDERED.
UM, AS WHEN I END WITH SAYING THAT IF YOU DON'T DO THESE THINGS, YOU'RE GOING TO WISH THAT THE PROCESS STAYED AS SMALL AS THEY HAVE BEEN.
HI, MY NAME IS CECILIA DAKIN AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE.
AND, UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO DEMAND THAT YOUR QUOTE STRAIGHT HOOK FROM THE APD.
UM, I THINK IT IS DISCUSSING THAT APD OF CLAIM THAT THEIR ACTIONS THIS WEEKEND MORE TO PROTECT PEOPLE.
THERE'S COUNTLESS EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS NOT THE CASE.
HANDING OUT COOKIES AND KNEELING AND HUGGING FOR PHOTO OPS AND LYING TO COVER UP.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND IS NEVER GOING TO BRING BACK THE LIVES OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN MURDERED AND WILL NEVER FIX THE IRREPARABLE DAMAGE LIVES AFFECTED BY MASS INCARCERATION OF BLACK PEOPLE.
I'M HERE TO SAY THAT ABD SHOULD BE TRAINED, HAS GOT ALL OTHER ALTERNATIVES BEFORE TURNING TO WEAPONS AND THAT OTHER PROCEDURES LIKE WEARING BODY CAMS HAVE PROVEN TO BE INEFFECTIVE.
THE APD BUDGET IS EXTREMELY DISPROPORTIONATE AND I DEMAND THAT THEY ARE DEFUNDED AND THAT CHIEF OFFICER MANLEY STEPPED DOWN, RESIGNED BE FIRED.
UM, AND, UM, Y'ALL NEED TO DO BETTER.
THIS IS DISGUSTING THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING CALL AND TELL YOU HOW TO DO IT JOB.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THE PROFESSIONAL AND YOU ARE PROVING TO BE THE CRIMINALS AND Y'ALL ARE THE ONES WHO SHOULD BE LOCKED UP.
WHEN I CALL FOR THE IMMEDIATE TERMINATION OF CHIEF MANLEY DUE TO NON TRANSPARENCY, I KNOW I CAN DO SOMETHING AND THAT IS VOTE FOR YOU.
SO IN ORDER TO DO THAT, I NEED FOR YOU TO ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION.
DO YOU SUPPORT A NATIONAL REGISTRY FOR OFFICERS REGARDING DISCIPLINARY AND SEMINAL REPORT? WHAT ACTIONS DO YOU CURRENTLY TAKE TO RUN ADEQUATE BACKGROUNDS? HOW MANY SECONDARY WEAPONS IS AN OFFICER ALLOWED TO CARRY? PLEASE DEFINE CARRY THE APPROVED LESSON.
BLISS STATES AR FIFTEENS CAN BE CARRIED BY BOTH ON AND OFF DUTY OFFICERS.
ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS AT ALL TO CARRY
SERVING IS AN OFFICER REQUIRED TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES.
AND THEN LASTLY, IN REGARDS TO THEM, I KNOW BRAD, HE HAS SUFFERED AND HEADWINDS BY BEING NEEDLESSLY SHOT WHILE HE WAS UP AGAINST THE FENCE.
OFFICER MANLY STATED HE WAS SHOT WHILE HE WAS CLEARING THE HIGHWAY.
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO IDENTIFY THE SHOOTER, EITHER APD, BODY PANTS.
ARE THERE ANY BALLISTIC TESTING THAT CAN BE DONE? THAT'S TONIGHT.
AS A WHITE PERSON, AS A WHITE PERSON, I CAN NOT KNOW THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF, OR SPEAK FOR BLACK PEOPLE AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR.
AND I WAS NOT THE RECENT PURCHASE.
SO THAT THOSE THAT WERE SPEAK THAT AS AN ALLY, I WANT TO SAY THAT I AM OUTRAGED OVER THE USE OF FORCE TACTICS, INCLUDING JUDY PROTESTERS WITH SO-CALLED LAST WEEK.
WE'LL BE BACK THAT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT USED TO GET PEOPLE PEACEFULLY, PROTESTING POLICE BRUTALITY AND POLICE TACTICS THAT HAVE LED TO THE KILLINGS OF COUNTLESS BLACK PEOPLE ACROSS OUR NATION, INCLUDING MOST RECENTLY, GEORGE FORD AND MIKE RAMOS RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS JUST COMES ON THE HEELS OF THE TATUM REPORT AND ALLEGATIONS THAT DEEP RACISM AND HOMOPHOBIA WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AND ON THE HEELS OF POLICY WERE BURSAL CHANGES UNDER CHIEF MANLEY'S LEADERSHIP, INCLUDING REINSTATING THE ABILITY OF AUSTIN POLICE TO SHOOT AT MOVING VEHICLES.
A POLICY THAT LED TO THE KILLING OF MICRON THAT I CALL ON US
[02:50:01]
AND TO THE COUNCIL TO DEFEND ATD.AND WE ALLOCATE THAT MONEY TO FRIENDS, NON-POLICE SOLUTIONS, SOLUTION SECURITY ISSUES, SUCH AS BETTER ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND MORE MENTAL HEALTH CARE WORKERS, INVESTING IN HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY BASED SECURITY AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAMS. AND SO I CALL HIM COUNSEL, IF YOU WOULD MOVE AND REPLACED BY MEN, WE NEED NEW LEADERSHIP POLICE REFORM IN AUSTIN ACTUALLY OCCURRED AS COUNCIL MEMBER, HALF MASS.
HE SAID, WE NEED TO STOP TALKING, LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE, DEMANDING JUSTICE AND TAKE ACTIONS.
NEXT SPEAKER PATCHES FOR SHEAR.
I'VE LIVED IN DISTRICT TWO FOR 12 YEARS.
I'VE SPOKEN TO THE COUNCIL MANY TIMES AND IT ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO THE RACISM OF SOME SYSTEM IN THIS CITY.
ANYONE WHO'S BEEN PAYING ATTENTION HAS SEEN THIS COMING FOR A LONG TIME.
COMMUNITY ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN BRINGING THESE PROBLEMS TO LIGHT.
OUR CITY'S BUDGET HAS CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTED THESE EXCESSIVE POLICING THAT HAS LED US HERE DEFUND AND DISBAND OUR CITY'S POLICE FORCE.
ANY APD OFFICERS THAT DIDN'T QUIT THIS WEEKEND AS PART OF THE PROBLEM, PLEASE LISTEN TO THE VOICES OF THOSE AFFECTED MOST.
THAT, YEAH, MY NAME IS LAUREN J GAETANO.
YOU ALL KNOW THE EIGHT STEPS TO TAKE.
WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN APOLOGIES.
WE WANT TO ACCEPT THESE PROMISES OF REFORM.
SINCE THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO BE VIOLENT, WE'RE NOT FOOLED OR IMPRESSED BY YOUR PERFORMANCE OF TAKING A KNEE.
THEY'RE RELEASING ALL PEACEFUL PROTESTORS, BEGIN PLANNING TO DEFEND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, HOLD THE OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE, REALLOCATE FUNDS INTO THE COMMUNITY AND KNOW THAT KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN WILL CONTINUE TO PROTEST UNTIL THE CITY STARTS DISMANTLING THE RACIST SYSTEM OF THE POLICE AMOUNT.
MY NAME IS DAVID CHASE AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO EXPERIENCE THE PEACEFUL PROTEST THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING.
SO THESE LAST FOUR DAYS, AND I TALKED TO A LOT OF PROTESTS LATELY, AND WE ALL FEEL THAT THE POLICE SHOULD NOT BE WRITING THEIR OWN POLICE REPORTS.
IT SHOULD BE DONE BY A THIRD PARTY, POSSIBLY THE DIRECTOR OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT.
I DON'T SEE WHY THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN A LONG TIME AGO.
RIGHT NOW THE SYSTEM IS BIASED BECAUSE POLICE OFFICERS MOTIONS ARE INVOLVED.
THE MENTALITIES ARE INVOLVED AND WE DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY OF THAT MENTALITY AND THOSE EMOTIONS.
IF WE HAD A SECOND THIRD PARTY REVIEW BOARD OR SOMETHING, CHECK THESE POLICE REPORTS OR MAKE A SECOND POLICE REPORT, THEN WE WOULD HAVE AN UNBIASED SYSTEM.
BUT UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, NOTHING'S GOING TO CHANGE.
I ALSO CALL FOR MANLEY'S RESIGNATION AND DEFUNDING.
IF THIS IS, IF THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM.
APPRECIATE EVERYONE AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND NOT HOPE I SEE SOME CHANGE.
I'M A BLACK WOMAN AND I'M A RESIDENT OF BOSTON AND DISTRICTS VARY EVERY INTERACTION I'VE HAD WITH THE POLICE AND NERVE WRACKING BECAUSE THERE IS NO GUARANTEE FOR JUST TREATMENT.
I HAD TO PUSH THROUGH MANY THREATS TO MY PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH TO PROTEST AT THE CAPITOL ON SUNDAY.
THE BIGGEST THING, THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF THE FARM POLICE OFFICERS THAT CONTINUE TO USE EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF FORCE AGAINST CIVILIANS FOR EXERCISING.
OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO FIRE AND CHOOSE MAINLY.
AND THE OFFICERS INVOLVED WITH MY GRANDMA'S MURDER YOU THE POLICE, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEN TO SEND INTO THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT, LISTEN TO YOUR COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO TRUST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH THE CURRENT POLICE DEPARTMENT.
[02:55:02]
LET'S LET'S ON NOW.UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON.
DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? I DID.
UM, Y'ALL THIS IS BRUTAL AND I DON'T THINK WE SPEND ENOUGH TIME OUTSIDE OF POLICY WORK, TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
UM, I'M STRUGGLING TO STAY ON THE CALL TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
UM, I CAN'T EVEN SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA TALK TO US TONIGHT.
I AM STRUGGLING TO STAY ON THIS CALL BECAUSE IT'S BRUTAL AND IT'S PAINFUL.
AND SO MY HOPE IS THAT DURING THE COURSE OF THE BREAK, THAT EVERYBODY TAKES A MOMENT TO DO SOME DEEP BREATHING, DRINK SOME WATER, EAT FOOD, HUG, YOUR LOVED ONES, LIKE TAKE A MINUTE FOR YOURSELF.
AND I WILL ENCOURAGE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WAITING TO SPEAK TO DO THE SAME WHILE I RECOGNIZE THAT THE SUBJECT MATTER IS SO VERY IMPORTANT.
I, I AM PRETTY GOOD ABOUT ALL OF US.
I DO THIS THING WHEN I'M ANXIOUS, YOU KNOW, I ROCK AND SOMEBODY WAS LIKE, YOU LOOK LIKE AN ABSOLUTE MANIAC RIGHT NOW.
I'M DOING WHAT I NEED TO DO FOR MYSELF.
YOU HAVE TO DO FOR YOURSELF, WHATEVER MINUTE YOU HAVE TO TAKE FOR YOURSELF TO BE OKAY IN A MOMENT LIKE THIS, THAT'S SO INCREDIBLY ABSURD AND WAY THEY LIKE IT'S THE MOMENT.
SO I HOPE PEOPLE ARE TAKING AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.
I WILL ALSO SAY THIS WITHOUT DISCOUNTING, THE RELEVANCE OF BEING ACCOUNTABLE.
UM, I'M LOOKING AT BRIAN MANLEY WHO TURNED ON HIS CAMERA.
UM, THAT'S A WHOLE HUMAN PERSON RIGHT NOW.
SO WHILE I CAN APPRECIATE THAT, WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY THAT IS ENTIRELY RELEVANT AND US HOLDING HIM BY WAY OF HIS POSITION OF LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABLE.
MAN'S FACE, THAT'S A WHOLE HUMAN PERSON.
WE CAN HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE AND ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT HE MIGHT NEED TO TAKE A MINUTE TO.
SO I WANT EVERYBODY TO JUST SEE, TO JUST KNOW THAT I'M NOT FEELING OKAY.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT Y'ALL, BUT I DON'T FEEL OKAY.
I WANT Y'ALL TO ALL TAKE A MINUTE, TAKE SOME BREATHS, EAT SOME FOOD, DRINK SOME WATER, DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
AND REMEMBER, NONE OF US ARE IMMORTAL.
WE'RE ALL HUMAN PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF OUR OPINIONS OF HOW YOU DID OR DID NOT, FRANKLY, DO YOUR JOB.
AND I HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT, WHICH I'M CERTAIN WE'LL TALK ABOUT LATER.
UM, MY HOPE IS THAT WE ALL REMEMBER EVERYBODY EVERY TIME THE FACE YOU CAN SEE RIGHT NOW AS A HUMAN FACE, THESE AREN'T ROBOTS.
GIVE A MINUTE, PLEASE GIVE THEM A MINUTE TO BE HUMAN.
UM, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY, AND I APPRECIATE YOU RECOGNIZING ME CHAIR, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THIS IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
SOMETIMES SOME OF THE HARD TIMES I GET ARE BY WAY OF THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION AND THEIR LEADERSHIP.
THE FACT THAT KEN CASSIDY, AKA BOX, THE LEADER OF THE UNION FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT ON THIS CALL.
I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO PUT OLIVE AND I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY APOLOGIES.
I THINK SOME OF THE WORDS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED, SOME OF THE FEARS AND ANGER THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED TOWARDS OUR POLICE CHIEF ARE ENTIRELY VALID.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WHEN IT COMES TO THE LOUD VOICES, THEY COME FROM APA.
[03:00:01]
AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION AND KEN CASSIDY AND HIS LEADERSHIP THERE.I THINK IT'S PROBLEMATIC THAT HE'S NOT ON THE CALL.
SO MY HOPE IS DURING THE COURSE OF THE BREAK, WE GET HIM ON THE CALL BECAUSE IN MY MIND'S EYE, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT INTRODUCTION TO THIS DIALOGUE.
YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF EVERYBODY TONIGHT AND THAT'S NOT FAIR COLLEAGUES.
THERE ARE ABOUT 120 PEOPLE THAT HAVE ACTUALLY GOTTEN IN THE QUEUE THAT HAVE YET TO SPEAK THE OTHER 150.
I WOULDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO CALL IN, BUT AT THIS POINT ABOUT 120 PEOPLE, IT IS SIX OH FOUR.
I SUGGEST WE COME BACK AT SEVEN, UH, TO, TO COMPLETE THE CALLS.
SO I WORKED FOR EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY 55 MINUTES.
SO YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO ACTUALLY REST, OKAY.
THEN HERE AT, UH, SIX OH FOUR, UM, BOTH THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AS WELL AS THE SPECIAL CALLED, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEETING ARE BOTH IN RECESS UNTIL SEVEN O'CLOCK.
SO YOU GUYS HAVE TO ALL OF THE SPEAKERS, THIS IS MONA FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE REMINDER TO NOT HANG UP OR YOU WILL LOSE YOUR SPOT IN LINE.
UM, ALSO IF YOU HAVE NOT PRESSED ZERO, PLEASE DO SO NOW, SO THAT YOU ARE ADMITTED TO THE CALL.
WE'RE GOING TO RECONVENE A CITY COUNCIL MEETING SET FOR, UM, IN FORTH 2020.
UH, IT IS ALSO CONCURRENTLY, UH, THEY A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ALSO FOR THIS SAME DAY, JUNE 4TH, 2020, WE WERE LISTENING TO SPEAKERS THAT HAD SIGNED UP.
UM, I AM, WE'LL START BACK IN ON THAT PROCESS.
WHEN WE ARE DONE HEARING ALL THE SPEAKERS WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
UH, AND THEN RIGHT AFTER THAT, UH, WE WILL ALL HOLD OUR COMMENTS, UH, AND, UH, RECONVENED AT NINE O'CLOCK TOMORROW MORNING, THIS MEETING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE PRESENTATION.
UH, AND THEN, UM, UH, QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS, I WOULD SAY OUT LOUD AGAIN, THAT THAT HAVING ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK IS CLEARLY INSUFFICIENT TIME FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK.
UM, THE REASON THE COUNCIL DECIDED THIS, UH, POLICY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WAS BECAUSE IT WAS ALSO, UH, UNFAIR TO HAVE PEOPLE HAVING TO WAIT HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS, AND ONLY GET TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL AT TWO OR THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, WE HAD 334, FOUR PEOPLE SIGN UP.
EVERYBODY SPOKE FOR THREE MINUTES, THAT'S ALMOST 17 HOURS.
AND WE WOULD HAVE PEOPLE SPEAKING AND IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT AS A COUNCIL, WE GET TO DISCUSS PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS ASSOCIATED WITH DEMONSTRATIONS.
CERTAINLY BEFORE WE GO BACK INTO, UH, DEMONSTRATIONS THIS, THIS WEEKEND, BUT THAT SAID, UH, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE ON WITH THE SPEAKERS.
UM, BUT I WOULD ASK THE SPEAKERS TO TRY TO HOLD TO THAT ONE MINUTE, UH, SO THAT, UM, ALL THE REMAINING SPEAKERS HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK BEFORE WE, WE GET TO LATE.
HOW DO WE STILL HAVE THE, UH, UH, FOLKS ON THAT ARE HELPING US RECOGNIZE SPEAKERS? YES, WE'RE HERE.
WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND CALL THE NEXT FEW BRETT TARR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
UM, I AM A BUSINESS OWNER AND I'VE LIVED HERE IN AUSTIN FOR 18 YEARS AND PARTICIPATED IN THE PROTEST A SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND SATURDAY EVENING.
WHAT I WITNESSED WERE MULTIPLE ACTS OF APD OFFICERS, UH, FIRING AT UNARMED, UH, PEACEFUL PROTESTORS SHOOTING IN THE HEAD AND THE TORSO AND NOT TAKING APPROPRIATE MEASURES AS OUTLINED BY NPP FEMALE BUSINESS OWNER MYSELF.
I KNOW THAT I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE THAT I MANAGE AND OVERSEE.
I DID NOT HEAR A CHIEF BRIAN MANLEY PARTICIPATING IN THIS WEEKEND'S ACTIVITIES.
[03:05:01]
ANY TYPE OF REPORTS OF OVERSIGHT OF THE POLICE, BUT WHAT I SAW FIRST HAND WERE INDIVIDUAL POLICE OFFICERS FIRING MULTIPLE TIMES WITH OTHER OFFICERS STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER AND NOT SAY ANYTHING.WHAT I SAW OR PEACEFUL PROTESTORS POLICING THEMSELVES, PUTTING OUT FIRES.
UM, AT ONE POINT, UM, PEACEFULLY CONFRONTING A MAN, WIELDING A KNIFE, UM, TELLING OTHERS NOT TO THROW WATER BOTTLES.
UM, AND I PERSONALLY CONSTRUCTED, UH, POLICE OFFICERS WHO WERE INDISCRIMINATELY FIRING LIVE ROUNDS OR THE NONLETHAL ROUND, UH, INDIVIDUALS.
AND ONCE THEY SAW A SEMI, UM, POSEY IN 45 YEAR OLD MALE COME THROUGH THEM VIDEO VIDEOING THEM.
THEY STOPPED FIRING OUT THAT INDIVIDUAL.
JUST ONE OFFICER DID AND THEN, UM, STOPPED FIRING.
SO YOU HAD PEACEFUL PROTESTORS, POLICING, APD.
YOU HAD LEADERSHIP NOT PARTICIPATING AND GETTING READY.
NEXT SPEAKER, CRYSTAL ERICKSON, COLLINS, CRYSTAL ERICKSON COLLINS.
I AM A MEMBER OF UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY, AUSTIN.
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE TEA EQUITY PANEL YESTERDAY.
I AGREE WITH MUCH OF WHAT YOU SAID.
I AGREE TODAY IS ABOUT OVERDUE JUSTICE.
NO MOTHER SHOULD FEAR FOR THE LIFE OF HER WHERE'S JUSTICE FOR BRENDA RAMOS.
FOR YEARS, PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE SPOKEN, ENGAGED, COLLABORATED, AND PATIENTLY SOUGHT REFORM.
IT'S TIME FOR DEEP AND TOTAL CHANGE TO ALL OF OUR INSTITUTIONS.
NOW SHE'S MANLY HAS GIVEN LIP SERVICE TO REFORM WHILE ALLOWING RACISM TO FLOURISH.
HIS POLICY CHANGES DIRECTLY RESULTED IN THE MURDER OF MIKE RAMOS.
HE MUST BE FIRED IF A SYSTEM MANAGER CRUMP WON'T, HE SHOULD BE FIRED.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS NOT MORE SWORN OFFICERS.
PUBLIC SAFETY COMES WHEN PEOPLE ARE SAD, HAVE GOOD EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE AND JOBS.
WE MUST REDIRECT ON TERM, ADD PERSONNEL BUDGET TO HOUSING, EDUCATION, AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND CONTRIBUTE $70 MILLION TO RISE FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED DIRECTLY INTO THE HANDS OF UNDERFUNDED FAMILIES.
I GOT THE WORD WITH TEAR GAS DEALS, BUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HEAR MY OWN STATE EAR WASH OUT.
IF THIS IS HOW THEY TREAT PEOPLE PROTESTERS WITH ALL EYES ON THEM, HOW CAN YOU TRUST CPD WITH OUR COMMUNITY POLICE VIOLENCE? SHOULDN'T BE MY WHITE PRIVILEGE.
BLACK LIVES MATTER REALITY AT THE APD BUDGET.
MY NAME IS NICO ARNOLD AND I SPOKE AT THE POPE, UH, THIS WEEKEND.
UM, MY HEART ATTACK IS WE ARE NOT EVEN, HEY.
I WANT YOU ALL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AUSTIN IS THE CAPITAL OF TEXAS FOR A REASON.
WE STARTED AS A SLAVE TRADE AND OFTEN CHIEF MANLEY AND MR. CRUMP, DON'T STAND ON IT, GIVE IT TO THE COMMUNITY, GIVE IT TO BLACK PEOPLE.
HEALTHCARE ARE COMING TO SCHOOL.
WELL, HOW LONG IS DOWN HERE? WE'RE SCARED OUT HERE.
IF Y'ALL FEEL LIKE ELEPHANT PROTECTS US DEFUNDED PERIOD, NO MORE POLICE.
WE CAN FUND OURSELVES AND PROTECT OURSELVES.
I'VE BEEN LIVING IN AUSTIN FOR 27 YEARS.
IF Y'ALL FEEL LIKE THIS IS ENOUGH, STAND WITH US, STAND WITH US AND SAY, THIS IS ENOUGH FREE.
MY NAME IS NICO DAN WITH THE NOT AGAINST US.
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING NEXT SPEAKER, MARY CHISM,
[03:10:01]
MARY CHISHOLM.MAKE SURE YOU UNMUTE YOUR PHONE.
HI, MY NAME'S MARY CHIS ON MINE FROM, UH, OUR 11 DISTRICT FOUR.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER CAN TERMINATE THE GRANT NOTED IN ITEM SEVEN.
I'D LIKE TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO, UH, DIRECT THE MANAGER, TO DISMANTLE THE POLICE AND START NEW.
AND I AGREE WITH CHRIS HARRIS AND THE GENTLEMAN AFTER HIM AND CHRIS HARRIS HAS POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO HOLD MANLEY CASSIDY AND ALL OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
WE KNOW THAT KEN CASSIDY HAS ASSAULTED PEOPLE.
IT'S ON VIDEO AND I URGE EVERY PERSON WHO WAS INJURED WHILE PROTESTING TO CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO FILE A CIVIL RIGHTS SUIT AGAINST AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THEIR OFFICERS.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN POLICY DIRECTOR FOR DAVA GO AUSTIN, VAMOS AUSTIN SPEAKING ON ITEM SEVEN AND
IT IS HORRIFYING TO KNOW THAT PEACEFUL PROTESTERS IN MULTIPLE INSTANCES WERE MET WITH VIOLENT RESPONSES BY APD THAT HAVE LEFT MULTIPLE YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR IN CRITICAL CONDITION.
WHILE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO ASK FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, SO-CALLED NON LETHAL AMMUNITION IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS.
AND IN FACT, LETHAL WHEN USING THE MANNER THAT AWESOME POLICE OFFICERS PRIOR TO THE PROTESTERS AND BYSTANDERS, THESE POLICIES AND PRACTICES CAN NOT STAND THE NOT ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO APD WITHOUT FIRST ADDRESSING THE EGREGIOUS EVENTS OF THE LAST WEEK AND IDENTIFYING IMMEDIATE CHANGES THAT CAN BE MADE TO PREVENT THIS FORM FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.
INSTEAD OF FUNDING, APD REQUESTS USE THOSE FUNDS TO ADDRESS HEALTH AND OTHER SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES, STARTING WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH TO ADDRESS THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF COVID-19 AS WELL AS LONG REQUESTED PROJECTS AS IS WRITING IN THE CAR, WHICH ARE MORE COST EFFECTIVE DETERRENT.
AND AS I SAID THIS MORNING REGARDING ITEM SEVEN, I URGE TERMINATING THE GRANT, FREEING UP CITY FUNDS FOR ALLOCATION TO THE RISE FUND, FACILITATING ACH TRANSFERS DIRECTLY TO THE RESIDENCE.
AND I APPRECIATE MY FELLOW CITIZENS.
I'VE LIVED IN THE AUSTIN METRO FOR 12 YEARS NOW IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT.
I DID NOT PHYSICALLY PROTEST, BUT I BORE WITNESS.
I'VE SEEN HORRIFIC FOOTAGE, 17 MILES FROM MY HOME, AND IT IS UNACCEPTABLE.
WE NEED JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR MIKE RAMOS AND HIS MOTHER.
WE NEED TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST FASCISM AND RACISM AND SHAVE IT INTO SUBMISSION.
I DEMAND THAT APD LAY DOWN WEAPONS AND VIOLENCE.
RATHER THEY RISK PUTTING MORE FOLKS IN CRITICAL CONDITION WITH NON-LETHAL TOOLS LIKE THEY DID WITH MR. HOWL OR SHOOTING AN UNARMED PREGNANT WOMAN LIKE MRS. MARTIN SHOOTING, MEDICS AND JOURNALISTS.
WE CANNOT TOLERATE THIS POLICE DEPARTMENTS SHOULD RESEMBLE THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I ASK THE COMMITTEE TO SHOW FAITH IN THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN FIRST AND UNDERSTAND YOU NEED TO EARN OUR FAITH.
THE APD BUDGET IS WAY TOO MUCH OF THE PIE.
IT NEEDS TO BE REDUCED A PRIORITY AND SPENDING SHOULD BE EDUCATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE MUST INVEST WISELY IN OUR COMMUNITY, BLACK LIVES MATTER AND POLICE VIOLENCE AND RACISM.
I WAS IN THE PROTEST LAST SUNDAY DURING THE PART AT THE CAPITOL AND GOVERNOR GOVERNOR MANSION AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE RECENT PROTESTS, INCLUDING THE ONES IN AUSTIN BY MY OWN DIRECT WITNESS AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE EVENTS THAT WENT ON, UH, LATER IN THE EVENING WERE PEACEFUL.
BASICALLY PEOPLE, VERY TIRED OF THE POLICE KILLINGS, THE SYSTEMATIC RACISM OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND SO ON, PRIMARILY DIRECTED AT PEOPLE OF COLOR.
SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT, THAT PEOPLE HERE IN AUSTIN ENGAGED IN PEACEFUL CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE ON 35 FOR A LIMITED PERIOD THAT COULD HAVE ENDED WITH RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE
[03:15:01]
AND VERY MILD MEANS THAT'S THE PEOPLE TO LEAVE.BUT INSTEAD APD, AS YOU KNOW, AS YOU'VE BEEN HEARING NEWS, HIGHLY DAMAGING, CAPABLE OF NAMING AND KILLING PEOPLE ELEMENTS, BUT THE RUBBER BULLETS IN THE BEANBAG, UM, MY SON WHO WAS THERE IN THE EVENING, UH, SAW, UH, POLICE OFFICERS LINED UP ON NINE 35 WITH AN OFFICER POINTING HIS RIFLE DIRECTLY DOWN AT THE CITIZENS BELOW IN FRONT OF THE APD.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PARTICIPANT.
THANKS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.
UM, I WAS AT THE PROTEST THIS PAST WEEKEND WEEKEND PEACEFULLY CAUSE THAT'S MYSELF.
AND FOR THE RECORD, I DID NOT WANT FEEL THREATENED BY MYSELF, PROTESTERS, BUT I JUST FELT THREATENED AND UNSAFE BECAUSE OF THE POLICE TACTICS USED.
I WON'T PROBABLY GO INTO DETAIL BECAUSE OF THE TIME, BUT EVERYTHING THAT HAS MADE SENSE IN REGARDS TO WHAT EXTENT IS A HUNDRED PERCENT ACCURATE.
THEY DID NOT GO THE EXTRA MILE TO KEEP, THEY CAN ESCALATE OUT OF CONTROL, BUT ACTIVIST INSTIGATORS, I WAS NOT INJURED MYSELF, BUT I FELT LIKE I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN ONE OF THOSE WHO HAD BEEN INJURED BECAUSE ADP WAS TRIGGER HAPPY AND FIRING THE RUBBER BULLETS AT RANDOM TO THE CROWD.
I FIRST EXPERIENCED A TERRIFYING SITUATION.
AND AS A PRIVILEGED WHITE FEMALE, I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE HOW BLACK AMERICANS HAVE FELT FOR SO LONG.
THE ANSWER IS NOT TO DO THAT AS OUR CURRENT MODEL, BUT REFORM AND COMPLETELY CHANGE IT.
AND WE NEED MORE THAN A FEW WORDS THAT WE CAN START BY DEFINING APB AND JUSTICE FROM OKLAHOMA.
RENFIELD SINCE IT HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED FIRST, THE IDEA OF A CURFEW IN AUSTIN IS ABSURD AT BEST, AND IT'S ANOTHER EXCUSE FOR THE APD TO BEAT UP PEACEFUL PROTESTERS.
THERE'S A 2017 RESEARCH PAPER ONLINE AT BMJ JOURNALS ON RUBBER BULLETS.
3% OF PEOPLE INJURED BY RUBBER BULLET GUY, 15% ARE PERMANENTLY DISABLED.
IF YOU BAN THEM ONLY IN CROWD CONTROL SETTINGS, THAT DISTINCTION IS ANOTHER SHIELD FOR THE POLICE TO HIDE BEHIND.
IMMEDIATELY CHANGE THE POLICY TONIGHT, BRAD
AND I WONDER IF CITY MANAGER CRUMP WAS ASLEEP IN HIS OVERSIGHT, LIKE HE WASN'T MINNEAPOLIS AND THE APD IDENTIFIED THE OFFICERS THAT SHOT THOSE BOYS, OR ARE THOSE OFFICERS STILL ON DUTY RIGHT NOW BEING PAID EXTRA TO WORK THESE PROTESTS.
I WANT EVERYONE TO REMEMBER WE WHO ARE BEING ROUTED TO FUND THIS POLICE BRUTALITY.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE PAYING THOSE COPS SALARY, HEALTHCARE HARMON, OR MANY PEOPLE IN AUSTIN ARE OUT OF JOBS.
AND WHILE BRAD AND JUSTIN ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT LINE.
UM, THANKS EVERYONE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR US OUT.
UM, I'M HAPPY THAT MANY OF YOU ARE WILLING TO ADOPT THE EIGHT CAN'T WAIT POLICY AND HOPE THAT WILL HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY, BUT THAT IS HARDLY A BABY STEP.
WE NEED TO SIGNIFICANTLY CUT FUNDING TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND REALLOCATE THOSE RESOURCES AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ADDITIONALLY, DA MARGARET MOORE HAS STATED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY PROSECUTE POLICE REPEAT.
SHE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH LAWYERS TO HOLD OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE.
FOR THAT REASON, THE KILLING OF MAURICE, THE SILVA WAS NEVER PROSECUTED.
AND THE OFFICER IN THAT CASE WITH THE SAME WHO KILLED MICHAEL
YOU SHOULD NOT HIRE MORE OFFICERS.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE STAFF THAT CAN HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND YOU CERTAINLY SHOULD STOP HANGING ON TO STAIRS WHEN THEY ARE BEING INVESTIGATED.
THE NEXT THING I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS AS THE MEDIA ACTIONS REGARDING THE PROTEST IN THE COMING DAYS, THERE ARE REPORTS THAT CHIEF MANLEY IS CONSIDERING A CURFEW AND I PLEAD WITH YOU NOT TO ENFORCE THE CURFEW.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT CURRENCIES ARE ABUSED BY THE LEP, THE FREEWAY VENDORS, PEOPLE SIMPLY WALK HOME FROM WORK.
HE FOUND THE POLICE BLACK LIVES MATTER.
[03:20:03]
GOOD EVENING.I AM A CONSTITUENT IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
AND I HAVE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR 10 YEARS.
I'M HERE TO ADD MY VOICE TO THOSE WHO COULD SEND THE UNPROVOKED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE USED BY APD AT THIS PROTEST.
IT IS UNACCEPTABLE AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS AT KIPP AUSTIN, I'M HERE IN PARTICULAR IN SUPPORT OF BRAD IOLA.
AS A REMINDER, BRAD IS 16 YEARS OLD AND REMAINS IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN.
YOU NEED TO DEMAND TOTAL TRANSPARENCY ABOUT THESE INCIDENTS.
TERMINATE THE OPPOSITE OF WHO CLEARLY VIOLATED POLICY TO WARN BEFORE FIRING AND FULLY REIMBURSED EVERY VICTIM USING EXISTING APD FUNDING.
NOW I WANT TO ADDRESS HIS FAMILY'S RESPONSE.
THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF TRAINING OR POLICIES THAT WEAK LEADERSHIP, THE CHANGING CHOIR ARE NOT TWEAKS.
THEY WILL TAKE VISION AND BATHROOM.
NEXT SPEAKER, CHRISTOPHER SCHOLAR.
MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER SCHOLARED.
I'M AN ANN KITCHENS DISTRICT FIVE, DESPITE AUSTIN'S TOLERANT PROGRESSIVE REPUTATION.
THE ATG WHEN FACING ITS CITIZENRY SHOWS ITS RACIST OPPRESSION TIME AND AGAIN ON SATURDAY MAY 30, MY MINOR SON AND I ATTENDED A PROTEST AT APD HQ.
WE WILL PREPARED FOR PEACEFUL PROTEST.
WE WERE NOT PREPARED FOR VIOLENT ATTACKS BY THE POLICE AS SEVERAL VIDEOS AND PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW.
MY PASSIVELY RESISTING CHILD WAS ATTACHED BY SEVERAL MOUNTED POLICE OFFICERS IN A CONCENTRATED AND DELIBERATE FASHION.
IN FACT, COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN HAD A PHOTO OF THIS HAPPENING TO MY CHILD ON HIS FACEBOOK PAGE.
WE'VE ALL SEEN TOO MANY BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT SO LUCKY.
YOU PARENTS WHO DIDN'T BEFORE NOW KNOW HOW APD WILL TREAT YOUR CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF COLOR.
THE APD HAS DEMONSTRATED TIME AND AGAIN, BUT IT EXISTS CHEAPLY TO OPPRESS CITIZENS OFTEN WITH RACIST VIOLENCE AS A TAXPAYER CITIZEN AND HUMAN IT'S A MAN WITH THE ACDC DEFUNDED DISMANTLED, AND ONLY THEN IF NEEDED REBUILT FROM THE GROUND UP.
PLEASE BE SURE TO UNMUTE YOUR PHONE.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE CHARLES MOORE FOR HIS LEADERSHIP OF THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION BLACK LIVES HAVE ALWAYS MATTERED.
DISTRICT TEND TO NO LONGER BLINDLY FIND A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS ALWAYS VIOLENTLY RACIALLY PROFILED OR BLACK AND LATIN X COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE THAT APD SENT CITIZENS EXERCISING THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO THE HOSPITAL.
THE INCOMPETENT POLICE PRESENCE AT PROTEST USE WEAPONS BOTH OFTEN LETHAL OR SEMI LEGAL WAYS.
BUT IF LEFT SIDE OF THE SCENE SEVERELY DAMAGED BOTH PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR THESE MEDICAL TREATMENTS AND ANY FUTURE LEGAL FEES.
MY FOLLOWING SUGGESTION FOR POLICE REFORM HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY CAMPAIGN ZERO AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION, THE 2020 AUSTIN BUDGET SURVEY.
I WANT TO REMIND CHAIRMAN SHE, A WOMAN ASKED AN ALTERNATE STUFF.
YOU'RE A REAL ACTUAL STEPS THAT WE CAN TAKE THE APPOINTMENT OF POLICE.
BRIAN MANLEY SHOULD BE CALLED INTO QUESTION ALSO.
WHY DOES APD EVEN HAVE ACCESS TO TEAR GAS AT A BARE MINIMUM? THE CITY FUNDS TO MILITARIZE APD SHOULD BE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED AND REAPPROPRIATED FOR MORE CRUCIAL ITEMS THAT WILL BENEFIT THE LIVES AND SAFETY, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE OF COLOR, OFTEN PUBLIC HEALTH TESTING, RENT FREEZES, ET CETERA.
A CONSIDERABLE CONSIDERABLE PERCENTAGE OF APD BUCKS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARDS IMPROVING THE CIVILIAN COMPLAINTS OFFICE TO ENSURE THAT POLICE MISCONDUCT OR PROTEST GETS INVESTIGATED SWIFTLY INDEPENDENTLY BY A THIRD PARTY.
NEXT SPEAKER, ALEXANDRA EVANS.
I'M PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY DEMOCRATS AT UT AUSTIN AND MANY MEMBERS OF MY ORG WERE TEAR GAS IF GET THE PROTEST SO APL TO USE NONLETHAL BLITZ AND BRUTE FORCE SANKAR, UNARMED PROTESTERS, SENDING CHILDREN.
THEY'VE BEEN LIED ABOUT THIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA UNTIL WE WERE FORCED TO RECANT AFTER COUNTLESS TESTIMONIES, IT COULD BE GREATLY ABUSED THEIR POWER THIS PAST WEEK.
HOW CAN AUSTIN PRIDE ITSELF ON BEING TEXAS AND PROVIDE THE CABLE? MORE POLICE FORCE WAS SO EAGER
[03:25:01]
TO STIFLE THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND RETALIATE ON PROTESTORS CAUSE THEY'RE CALLED.SO THE CHIEF OF POLICE AFTER EVERY ABUSE FROM THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AT CITY COUNCIL, WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO TO ENSURE THAT APD DOES NOT DO FURTHER HARM TO THIS COMMUNITY? THE MORE QUALIFIED DENIED, EXPRESSED OPTIONS FOR FUNDING COMMUNITY AND NOT COST.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO THAT.
I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I CAN PROVE THE STUDENTS WHO ARE GREATLY POLITICALLY ENGAGED.
THEY ARE PASSIONATE, AWARE, AND FURIOUS.
HOW DO I INSIDE THEM? CAN YOU CONTINUE TO THROW OUR TIME AND RESOURCES TO ELECT PEOPLE LIKE YOU? WHEN PROGRESSIVE LEADERSHIP DID NOT CUT FROM BRUTALIZING ON PROTEST, APD HAS SHOWN THAT THEY DO NOT PROTECT AND SERVE PEOPLE TO LEAVE THEIR HOUSE IN THE PANTS.
YOU SAID YOUR CONSTITUENTS TALK IN CIRCLES AND AVOID ADDRESSING A REAL ISSUE AT ANY COST.
DO WE NEED TO ELECT PEOPLE LESS CONCERNED WITH TELLING LINES, GIVING DONORS OR FUTURE POLITICAL AMBITIONS AND FIND PEOPLE MORE CONCERNED WITH JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SERVICE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING AS A REMEMBER HARPER MADISON.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO REMIND FOLKS, I ABSOLUTELY RECOGNIZE THAT ONE MINUTE IS NOT ENOUGH TIME, BUT IT'S WHAT WE HAVE AND NO ONE PERSON'S EXPERIENCE OR COMMENTARY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY OTHERS.
AND SO IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF US CUTTING YOU OFF.
IT'S A MATTER OF US TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF WHAT'S HUMANLY POSSIBLE.
AND FRANKLY, BY WAY OF MATHEMATICS, THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR US TO GIVE EVERYBODY MORE TIME.
SO I RECOGNIZE, AND I'M CERTAIN THAT SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD ECHO MY, MY SENTIMENT AND SAYING, ONE MINUTE IS NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR YOU TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S SO EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT, BUT WE CAN'T GIVE ANY ONE PERSON MORE TIME THAN WE GIVE ANOTHER PERSON TIME.
EVERYBODY'S GOT SOMETHING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DIALOGUE.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN TO, UH, ADVOCATE FOR MY COLLEAGUE, UH, THE CHAIR MAY OR OTHER, UM, WHEN, AND IF HE CUTS YOU OFF, IT'S NOT BECAUSE YOUR CONTRIBUTION IS NOT VALUED.
IT'S BECAUSE THERE ARE 280 SOME ODD PEOPLE STANDING IN LINE BEHIND YOU AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO MAKE THEIR CONTRIBUTION.
AND THEIR HONESTLY, IT'S JUST, WE COULD DO THIS DIALOGUE FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE WEEKS AND STILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME.
DON'T FEEL LIKE WE DON'T HEAR YOU.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE, OUR EMAIL ADDRESSES ARE READILY AVAILABLE ON THE, ON THE, UM, AUSTIN, TEXAS.WEBSITE.
IF YOU DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SAY EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO SAY, THIS IS NOT YOUR SINGULAR OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO US.
I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO TALK TO US OUTSIDE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF, WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO HAVE PEOPLE GO OVER THE ONE MINUTE AND THAT THE DECISION AROUND IT BEING ONE MINUTE AS TO DO WITH LIKE THE FINITE NATURE OF TIME.
I JUST PERSONALLY WANT TO SAY MY APOLOGIES.
I'M SO SORRY THAT YOU'RE, YOU GUYS ARE FEELING LIKE YOU'RE GETTING CUT OFF.
YOU'RE NOT GETTING TO SAY EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO SAY.
I WANT TO HEAR IT ALL, BUT HONESTLY, YOU KNOW, WE COULD BE HERE FOR WEEKS HEARING IT ALL.
SO, UM, IF EVERYBODY COULD BE REALLY MINDFUL ABOUT RESPECTING THE ONE MINUTE IT'S BECAUSE WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR ALLIES, OUR ANTITRUST IS OUR ANTI-RACIST ALLIES.
LIKE WE WANT TO HEAR FROM EVERYBODY.
SO THE ONE MINUTE IS A HARD FIRM CUTOFF FOR A REASON.
AND NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE CONTRIBUTING TO THE DIALOGUE.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL THE NEXT SPEAKER FOR A MINUTE.
SORRY, SAY THE NAME AGAIN, PLEASE.
UM, WELL, UH, MY NAME IS SPENCER GARLAND.
I SAW ALL THE SAME TYPES OF THINGS AS EVERYBODY BEFORE ME AND SPEAKING AS DESCRIBED PREGNANT WOMAN, A 16 YEAR OLD COLLEGE STUDENT OVER 50 OR AT THE PROTESTERS, BUT ZERO ARREST STILL IN THE MURDER OF MY GRANDMA'S MORRIS TO SILVA, CRISPR TAYLOR WHO KILLED BOTH.
LET HIS ASSISTANT CHIEF WALK WITH $130,000 IN SICK PAY AFTER A DECADE OF RACIST REMARKS AND NO PUNISHMENT.
MANLEY HAS DONE NOTHING BUT LIED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEKEND.
[03:30:01]
NEW HERE IS A WHOLE COUNTRY WAKING UP AND HOLDING YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR KNOWLEDGE YOU'VE HELD FOR YEARS.AND THEN NOTHING WAS ABSOLUTELY NO CURFEW.
YOU'RE JUST LIKE NEW AUSTIN, PROGRESSIVE ON THE SURFACE AND DRIVING TO DALLAS TO ENDORSE JOE BIDEN ON THE WEEKENDS, FIRE CHIEF MANLEY.
HE IS A HUMAN LIKE HUNDRED PERCENT.
GALBREATH BE SURE TO UNMUTE YOUR PHONE PLEASE.
AND HOW DO THEY UNMUTE? AND THEY'RE PROBABLY JUST NEEDED THEMSELVES ON THEIR TELEPHONE.
I'M JUST UNMUTE EVE GALBRAITH.
ROBERT SEGOVIA MAY, IF YOU CAN GIVE US A MINUTE, I BELIEVE, UM, SOMETHING WENT WRONG.
MAYOR, IF I COULD TAKE A MOMENT, UM, THERE WAS A COUPLE OF COLLEAGUES AND I WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION OVER THE COURSE OF THE BREAK, UM, ABOUT SELF CARE AND UH, SOME OTHER THINGS THAT I THINK ARE RELEVANT AND IMPORTANT.
AND SO WHILE WE WAIT, I WONDER IF THERE'S ANYBODY OTHER THAN ME, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP MORE SPACE THAN NECESSARY.
I WONDER IF THERE'S ANYBODY OTHER THAN ME, YOU TAKE UP A MINUTE OR TWO TO TALK ABOUT, UM, TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES DURING THIS EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT TIME.
I'M DRINKING WAY TOO MANY DIET COKES.
I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT WHAT YOU HAD IN MIND.
AND UM, I WATCHED A LITTLE TV WITH MY LITTLE ONE.
I TRIED TO FOLLOW YOUR ORDERS, BUT I LOOKED AT MY BICYCLE, BUT I DIDN'T ACTUALLY GET ON IT.
SO, AND THANK YOU FOR CARING FOR US, ALLISON.
I WENT FOR A WALK AND GOT SOME AIR AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO REGULARLY THROUGH THIS WHOLE COVID AND PROTESTS AND EVERYTHING.
AND UM, I THINK IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR US TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES AND FOR EVERYONE TO PAUSE AND APPRECIATE YOU THINKING OF US NOW, WE'RE BACK.
ALRIGHT, WELL THE NEXT PERSON, ROBERT SEGOVIA, THIS IS ROBERT SEGOVIA.
THE, I AM A LATINO MAN IN THE COMMUNITY.
I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE FEMINISTS OF OTHER FOLKS THAT SAY, WE NEED TO DEFUND THE POLICE.
AND IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, WE NEED TO ABOLISH THE POLICE FIRING SHE'S MADLY.
IT SHOULD'VE ALREADY BEEN HAPPENED, BUT HE IS JUST THE HEAD OF A ROTTEN TREE AND WE NEED TO REBUILD THE POLICE FROM THE GROUND UP.
THEY HAVE SHOWN UP THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE NEED THE CITY COUNCIL TO DECIDE BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE.
WE NEED THE CITY COUNCIL TO SAY WE VALUE HUMAN LIVES OVER PROPERTY AND
[03:35:01]
JOBS.WE NEED THE CITY COUNCIL TO SAY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER BLACK BOY OR A BROWN BOY DIE AND GIVE THE POLICE ANY MORE MONEY.
UM, I HAD, UH, I HAD A RECORDING THAT WAS GOING TO BE PLAYED.
UM, BUT UH, THE RECORDING SOUNDS TO PLAY.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND READ IT REAL QUICKLY.
UH, I'M HERE TO APOLOGIZE FOR NOT TELLING THIS STORY.
BEFORE I HAD A MEETING WITH A SENIOR OFFICER WITH AP IN THE MEETING, I TOLD HIM THAT OUR BUSINESS WILL NOT CALL APD.
IF WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH A PERSON OF COLOR, CAUSE I'M AFRAID OF THE POLICE, BRUTALIZING SOMEONE, ONE IS UNNECESSARY AND WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT.
IF I KNEW I WAS A PART OF THAT, HE TOLD ME THAT WE WERE DOING THE RIGHT THING AND THAT WE SHOULD NOT CALL APD IN THE INSTANCES WHERE SOMEONE IS A PERSON OF COLOR FOR THE SAFETY OF THAT PERSON.
IT WASN'T EVEN SHOCKED THAT HE TOLD ME THAT YOU'RE SCARING MY FRIENDS FROM GOING TO PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION BLACK LIVES MATTER IS HELPING TO TEACH WHITE PEOPLE HOW WE CAN PARTICIPATE WITHOUT PEOPLE PUTTING PEOPLE OF COLOR UP FOR THE RISKS.
SO THESE HAVE BEEN AN HDU IS IMPORTANT FOR ME AND MY FRIENDS TO BE THERE, TO LISTEN, KEEP FAMILIES LASHED OUT THAT SERVICE NEEDS TO BE, TO TELL US ALL THAT EVERYONE WILL BE SAFE AND PROTECTED FROM OFFICERS.
DEMONSTRATORS ARE LEARNING TO IDENTIFY THE BAD ACTORS AND EXPOSE THEM AND GET THEM OUT OF THE DEMONSTRATION.
WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO GET RID OF THOSE BAD ACTORS AND WE WOULD, UH, WE ALSO NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO MOVE THE OFFICERS THAT ARE NOT.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEPPER MADISON.
I JUST LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE SPEAKER.
UM, THIS IS SOMEBODY IN MY DISTRICT, UM, WHO IS, UH, A STRONG WRONG ANTI-RACIST ADVOCATE.
AND DURING THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC, UM, THEY OPENED UP THEIR BUSINESS TO OFFER PEOPLE FREE WIFI AND SO MANY OTHER THINGS.
UH, THIS IS PROBABLY YOUR FIRST TIME SHOWING UP TO COUNCIL, UM, TO, TO SPEAK YOUR TRUTH AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, NOT JUST FOR SHOWING UP TODAY, NOT JUST FOR SHOWING UP, UH, DURING THE COURSE OF THE PROTEST, BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU AND YOUR FELLOW PROPRIETORS, UH, DID TO SHOW FOR THE COMMUNITY DURING THE COURSE OF THIS CRISIS.
UH, JUST, UM, I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE YOU ON THE LINE.
BE SHARING ON YOUR PHONE PLEASE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
SO JUST ECHOING OTHER PEOPLE, I'M GOING TO BE ARREST OF THE OFFICERS WHO KILLED MY GREEN NOSE AND THE DEFUNDING OF THE OFFICE.
I GUESS ONE THING I WANTED TO ADD WAS THAT LIKE REFORMISM IS A NOTCH AND COMMUNITY POLICING ISN'T ENOUGH.
AND SO I'M HOPING THAT AS WE SEE FROM THE POLICE AND REDIRECT THOSE FUNDS INTO THE COMMUNITY, INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IT'S HEALTH, UM, WE ALSO THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER WITHIN THE COMMUNITY IN, IN OTHER WAYS.
NEXT SPEAKER, BETH CLASSER, BETH CLASSER.
BE SURE TO UNMUTE YOUR PHONE PLEASE.
UM, MY NAME IS GEORGIE AND I ATTENDED, UH, SOME OF THESE PROTESTS AS A PEACEFUL PROTESTER, BUT LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT, UM, IT COULD HAVE BEEN MY POTENTIAL DEATH SENTENCE.
UM, AND IF THIS ISN'T CLEAR, IT NEEDS TO BE MADE CLEAR.
THE ESCALATED FORCE MODEL DOES NOT WORK.
[03:40:01]
A DOMINANT SHOW OF FORCE BY THE POLICE WILL CONVINCE PROTESTORS TO COMPLY DOES NOT WORK BECAUSE ALL IT DOES IS ACTUALLY INCITE VIOLENCE AND IN JUNE.SO ANY DOING SO YOU'RE TEACHING POLICE TO EQUATE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE WITH ANARCHY, AND IT'S ONLY EMBOLDENS RACIST APD COPS TO KILL.
SO THE SUGGESTIONS THAT I HAVE ARE TO BAN OURS ON A STATEWIDE LEVEL, UM, POLICE OFFICERS, AND ACTUALLY CHARGE THEM.
UM, SO THIS MEANS NOT ALLOWING CHOPS TO JUST, YOU KNOW, TAKE A LEAVE OF ABSENCE, BUT THEN ALSO BE ABLE TO REAPPLY TO BECOME A STATE TROOPER ONE DAY AS WELL.
I THINK THAT ALSO WE SHOULD MORE CONTROL, UM, DR.
POSTMORTEM AGGRAVATED INCIDENCES, AND ALSO TO DATE ON THE POLICE RIGHT NOW I'M 40% OF AUSTIN CITY BUDGET GOES TOWARDS THE POLICE, BUT THAT CAN ALSO BE REAL.
THEY REALLOCATED TOWARDS HOUSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH AREAS.
UM, AND ALSO FOR, EXCUSE ME, THANK YOU.
I'M, I'M A BLACK PRESIDENT OF DISTRICT SIDES AND MORE THAN ANYTHING, I WANT TO GO DOWNTOWN AND GO FIND COMMUNITY AGAINST BLACK LIVES MATTER, BUT I AM AFRAID.
HE JUST, HE IS LIKE THE EARLIER SPEAKERS AND SAID, THE VIDEOS LOOK EXACTLY LIKE MARGIE'S ON THE 1960S.
AND I DO NOT WANT TO FACE THE POLICE AND RIGHT NEAR WE'RE SHOOTING MEDICS.
AND BY DAY, HE, IN FACT IS YOUR GUESTS SHOULD NOT BE USED ON PEACEFUL CITIZENS IN ANY CONTEXT.
AND SHE FAMILIES RESPOND TO, THEY WILL, THEY WILL NOT BE USING CROWDS WAS SO DISRESPECTFUL TO BRETT.
I OWN WAS STANDING ON HIS OWN.
I'M DEMANDING THAT WE BE FUNDED THE POLICE AND ADOPT EIGHT.
CAN'T WAIT BECAUSE IT IS A SYSTEMATIC ISSUE AND WE DO NOT NEED MORE COPS OR STUDIES OR COMMITTEES OR TRAINING BECAUSE EVEN WITH ALL OF THAT, OFFICERS ARE STOPPING AND ARRESTING AND BRUTALIZING BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE ON CAMERA WITHOUT ME.
AND SO WE LOVE TO FUN BECAUSE IF I START CRYING BY A BLACK MAN TODAY, I WOULD THINK THIS COULD BE THE REASON THAT A MAN DIES TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON, UM, TO THE LAST SPEAKER.
UM, I WANT TO BE MINDFUL ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL HIM RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO I DON'T WANT TO ASK YOU TO ELABORATE IF YOU'RE DOING WHAT A LOT OF US HAD BEEN DOING AND JUST TAKING A MINUTE, LIKE SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED TO TAKE A MINUTE AND CRY OR SCREAM OR BE MAD, OR, BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT.
UM, SO SHE SAID SOMETHING THAT I THINK A LOT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE SAYING, UM, IN THAT THERE'S PEOPLE JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY CAN ELABORATE ON THEIR FEELINGS AND ELABORATE ON HOW WE ARE JUST NOT SHOWING UP FOR THEM.
AND SO IF SHE'S STILL ON THE LINE, I'D LIKE VERY MUCH TO ASK BRIEFLY.
UM, HOW CAN WE AS A COUNCIL, DO A BETTER JOB TO SHOW UP FOR PEOPLE WHEN Y'ALL WERE FEELING THE SAME THING WE FEEL, YOU KNOW, NONE OF US ARE IMMORTAL, RIGHT? WE'RE ALL MORTAL HUMANS AT.
HOW CAN WE SHOW UP BETTER FOR YOU IN THAT SPACE WHERE YOU'RE JUST FEELING LIKE WE DON'T SEE YOU.
LIKE, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO OFFER IN TERMS OF, IN ADDITION TO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER, SHE'S NO LONGER ON THE LINE.
IF YOU'RE ON MUTE, PLEASE UNMUTE YOUR PHONE.
UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY WITH THE CURRENT GRANT THAT'S COMING IN ON THE MONEY, PLEASE TAKE ACTION FOR CREATING SOME SORT OF COP WATCH.
WE REQUIRE POLICE TO TAKE PSYCHOLOGY AND SEE PSYCHOLOGIST AS A CONTINUING EDUCATION EVALUATION, SINCE THEY ARE CONSTANTLY BEING CHALLENGED PSYCHOLOGICALLY, BUT THEY LACK THE EMPATHY TO ACTUALLY COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR AUDIENCE.
[03:45:01]
WE REQUIRE POLICE TO TEACH A REQUIRED COURSE IN HIGH SCHOOL, OUR LAW LANGUAGE OF POLICE.SO WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THE LANGUAGE THAT THE LAW USES AGAINST US CONSTANTLY ON SUPPORT THE PREVIOUS CALLERS.
AND I STAND WITH ANY POLICE AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS AGAINST THESE LOOTERS.
WE'VE TRIED TO HIJACK THIS MOVEMENT.
PLEASE REDIRECT THESE FUNDS TO AN EXTERNAL ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO ENFORCE LAWFUL ARREST IN LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES, PREDOMINANTLY OF AFRICAN AND LATINO DISTRICT.
THEY MUST BE VOLUNTEER FOR HOOD WATTS, BUT THEY WILL ALL BE TRAINED IN SELF DEFENSE, WEAPONS, MARTIAL ARTS, AND TO NEUTRALIZE ANY UNLAWFUL BRUTALITY, ARREST OR MURDERS ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AT LEAST HALF OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET SHOULD GO TOWARDS THIS PROGRAM.
I APPRECIATE YOUR PARTICIPATION WITH US TONIGHT.
I'LL KEEP IT A SHORT, UH, FIREMEN.
WE DEFINED APD PUT THAT MONEY TOWARDS MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, GIVING PEOPLE THE HELP THEY NEED WHEN THEY ARE IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
PROBABLY BRIGHT PEOPLE OUT HERE, BUT WE SEEN HIM BEFORE WE KNOW HIS POLICIES AND HOW THEY AFFECT BLACK AND BROWN BODIES.
NEXT SPEAKER, STEPHANIE CARSON.
THIS IS BETHANY CARSON SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF, OF GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP AND UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY.
AUSTIN I'M HERE BECAUSE I WANTED TO CHALLENGE THE IDEA THAT REFORM WITHOUT DIVESTMENT WILL END POLICE BRUTALITY.
UM, AS ALEX BATALI WRITES, THIS ASSUMES THAT THE INTENDED ROLE OF THE POLICE IS TO NEUTRALLY ENFORCE A SET OF LAWS THAT ARE AUTOMATICALLY BENEFICIAL TO EVERYONE.
IT'S NOT AN IT'S NEVER HAPPENED.
POLICING IN THE U S EMERGED FROM SLAVE PATROLS AND APD SPECIFICALLY EMERGED FROM AN 1865 CITY COUNCIL MEETING ABOUT HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM THAT FREE BLACK PEOPLE WERE CONGREGATING IN AND AROUND.
AUSTIN REFERENCING THE FRIEDMAN TIMES WHERE NEWLY FREED BLACK PEOPLE WERE FINALLY BUILDING A SEMBLANCE OF SAFETY AND AUTONOMY.
IT'S UP TO CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE AMENDS FOR THAT HISTORY BY DEFUNDING THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE 40% OF THE BUDGET THAT IS CURRENTLY ATTACKING OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS COULD INSTEAD KEEP ALL OF US SAFE.
WE CAN MEET THESE BASIC NEEDS OF FAMILIES MOST IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMICS THROUGH THE RISE FUND FUND EMS, MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADDICTION, TREATMENT, BLACK AND DARK OPEN INVEST IN GREEN SPACES ON THE EAST SIDE.
I'M ON THE BOARD OF ECHO AND A RESIDENT IN EAST AUSTIN DISTRICT ONE ON SUNDAY, I JOINED A PEACEFUL GATHERING OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL TO SUPPORT BLACK LIVES MATTER AND CALLING ATTENTION TO THE MURDER OF MIKE RAMOS AFTER 15 MINUTES.
POLICE CREATED A BARRIER ON THEIR TRAVIS BIKES, THE TIME AND GUN WITHOUT WARNING, POLICE BEGAN FIRING ON MYSELF AND OTHER DEMONSTRATORS.
MANY OF WHOM HAVE THEIR HANDS UP.
THEY SHOT US AT CLOSE RANGE WITH BEING BACK BULLETS INTO A CROWD WITH PARENTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN, INCLUDING A FATHER WHO HAD A TWO YEAR OLD SON ON HIS SHOULDERS RIGHT NEXT TO ME, THESE VIOLENT AND UNPROVOKED SHOOTINGS AND USE THE CHEER GRAPHS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON.
RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE TWO YOUNG MEN OF COLOR, JUSTIN HOWE AND BRAD IOLA SITTING IN THE HOSPITAL WITH CRITICAL INJURIES BECAUSE OF APDS APPETITE.
THE BIO, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY NOT ONE SINGLE POLICE OFFICER, SOMEONE IN CITY MANAGEMENT HAS NOT LOST THEIR JOB OVER THIS.
YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO HOLD THESE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
WE NEED JUSTICE FOR MIKE RAMOS.
WE NEED JUSTICE FOR BRIANA TAYLOR AND GEORGE FLOYD BECAUSE BLACK LIVES MATTER.
HI, MY NAME IS TUCKER AND I LIVE IN COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON FOR BEGINNING.
THE DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO ACTUALLY CREATE ADJUSTMENT, EQUITABLE SAFETY PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM IN AUSTIN WITH ALL THE MONEY WE SPENT ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WHAT WE GET IN RETURN IS AN ONGOING, VIOLENT DISRUPTION OF OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES
[03:50:01]
AND THE MURDERS AND PEOPLE LIKE MIKE RAMOS.WE DON'T, WE ALSO GET PEACEFUL PROTESTERS WHO UTILIZE WITH CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND SO CALLED LESS THAN LETHAL MUNITION, WHICH SENT JUSTIN HOWE AND GRETTA OUT TO THE HOSPITAL AND CRITICAL, CRITICAL CONDITION.
LEAVING THEM WITH LIFE ALTERING INJURIES, EXCUSE ME, THE PEOPLE WHO RESPOND TO CRISES IN OUR COMMUNITIES, THAT SHOULD BE THE PEOPLE BEST EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH THOSE CRISES.
AND IN ALL CASES, THE BEST EQUIPPED PEOPLE ARE NOT MEMBERS OF A MILITARY POLICE FORCE.
IF WE WERE TO REALLOCATE RESOURCES TOWARDS THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER THAT BE HOUSING SOLUTIONS, PUBLIC HEALTH, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, JOBS, SCHOOLS.
IF WE DID THAT, WE WOULD SEE THAT WE DON'T HAVE A NEED FOR POLICE FORCE.
THIS IS A RADICAL AND SUSTAINABLE STEP TOWARD AN ACTUAL COMMUNITY BASED MODEL OF SAFETY THAT WOULD ENSURE BLACK PEOPLE THRIVE IN THE CITY RATHER THAN BE TERRORIZED BY AN INCREASINGLY AGGRESSIVE AND RACIST POLICE FORCE REMOVED MANUALLY FROM THE POLICE BLACK LIVES MATTER.
I WAS A COAST GUARD OFFICER FOR SIX YEARS.
I CARRIED THE WEAPONS OF THE POLICE.
WE WERE TOLD THAT IF WE USE EXCESSIVE FORCE, WE'D BE THROWN UNDER THE BUS.
THAT IS NOT THE CULTURE OF APV IN 2014 WITH THE SIXTH STREET AS SUCH YOU BY COPS COME UP AN ALLEY WAY TOO FAST.
THE ALMOST RAN INTO A SOBER PEDESTRIAN.
ONE OF THE BIKE COPS GOT MAD THAT THIS GUY WAS IN HIS WAY.
SO HE GOT OFF HIS BIKE AND CRUSHED THE MAN.
AND THE WAY THAT YOU MIGHT SEE A DRUNK FRAT BOYS START A FIGHT.
BUT THIS FRAT BOY WAS WEARING AN AUSTIN PD UNIFORM.
THE MAN TOLD THE COP TO SLOW DOWN THE TOP, GRABBED HIS WRIST AND BROUGHT OUT HANDCUFFS.
AND THE MAN GENTLY PULLED AWAY INSTANTLY.
THE OFFICER PUNCHED HIM IN THE HEAD.
I'M NEED TO TAKE DOWN MANEUVERS, FLEMING HIS FACE INTO A BRICK WALL.
I SAW HIS FACE COVERED IN BLOOD AS IT DRAGS HIM AWAY, WHICH KILLS HAPPENED TO ANYONE LISTENING TO MY WORDS RIGHT NOW, THE NEXT DAY I TRIED TO BECOME A WITNESS, BUT I FAILED.
IF THAT MAN IS WITH ME, I'M SORRY.
I DIDN'T HELP YOU WHEN HE NEEDED IT MOST.
CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE.
MY NAME IS ERIC
AND THEREFORE THIS WORK MUST INCLUDE PUTTING AN END TO THE UNACCEPTABLE AND RACIST POLICE BRUTALITY THAT RAVAGES WATCH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE U S WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO ASSERT, TO ACTIVELY AFFIRM THAT FREEDOM FROM POLICE VIOLENCE AND RACIAL JUSTICE OR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE ISSUES.
AND TODAY WE'RE ALSO AFFIRMING THE BLACK LIVES MATTER.
AND THE LAST WEEK WE HAVE SEEN APD RESPOND TO A PROTEST ABOUT ENDING POLICE BRUTALITY BY