10 Feb
2016
Posted in: Blog Post
By    11 Comments

The Austin Police continue to bring violence to our streets; politicians and prosecutors need to stop sitting on the sidelines

“The protection of life is the primary core value and guiding principle of the Austin Police
Department.” –Austin Police 2015 Policy Manual

On Monday, February 8, 2016, Austin Police officer Geoffrey Freeman shot and killed 17-year old David Joseph. According to Asst. Chief Brian Manley, young Mr. Joseph was naked, running toward the officer, and refusing to obey the officer’s orders, causing Officer Freeman to shoot him, in spite of the fact that APD officers are usually issued Tasers, pepper-spray, and batons, and given training in hand-to-hand combat as part of their academy training.

David Joseph, 17 years old


We, in the Peaceful Streets Project remember the outcry after the 2013 APD shooting of Larry Jackson Jr., “Don’t run from the police, and you won’t get shot.” Apparently, running toward the police isn’t much better, or for that matter, and if the death of Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Mo. is any indication, neither is kneeling down with your hands in the air.

As the name, “Peaceful Streets” would imply, we seek peaceful solutions to the problem of APD violence and brutality, but it seems to be of no avail. Several of us have trusted in the system, and spoken for our allotted three minutes to the Austin City Council, the Public Safety Commission, and the Citizens’ Review Panel, only to be ignored by the members of all three panels. Our members marched and protested in a Rally Against Police Brutality, only to be tackled, tased, pepper-sprayed, threatened with shotguns, and arrested by the Austin Police.

Needless to say, there will be protests and demonstrations over the coming days. The momentum is building, as every new APD shooting brings even more activists to the cause, and as the families of those killed in the past link up with the newest victims, to seek the justice that they have yet to find in our flawed court system. Knowing APD’s history of violent reaction to any criticism of APD violence, we fear that, in spite of our mission, the streets of Austin will be anything but peaceful over the coming days. We will be there, not only providing video documentation of APD’s actions, but first aid and support for the protesters, bringing antacids, baby shampoo, and water for pepper-spray victims, and ice and bandages for taser and baton injuries.

We do, in fact, seek a peaceful resolution to this situation, to avoid a violent resolution. We ask that the Austin Mayor and City Council step in and protect the safety of the public from their Public Safety department. We ask that APD’s policy actually be implemented as true policy instead of simply being a “guideline,” and we ask that the Travis County District Attorney investigate and prosecute this case vigorously, through the Grand Jury hearing, criminal trial, and any appeals.We fear that if APD officers continue to kill with impunity, sooner or later, a family member is going to seek justice outside of the court system.

We’re still trying to “trust the system.” We ask that the “system” validate that trust, instead of abusing it.

11 Comments

  • Wow

  • I just came across your YouTube video “Austin Cops”. Just wanted to state the obvious. Your organization is full of pathetic, weak pussies. Get a clue, get a life, get a job and find a real cause. I’d like to see one of you scrawny bastards man up and spend a day, just a day in blue. Then see.
    Please go straight to hell. Fucking comie pricks!!

    • Haha, fuck the pig police.

  • In response to the Michael brown comment. Didn’t all the evidence and eye witness testimonies conclude that Michael Brown didn’t have his hands up surrendering when he was shot? Didn’t all the evidence prove otherwise?

    • No, that is incorrect. That is what a bunch of racist cop lovers put out as they intentionally made specious assumptions about what happened in spite of the evidence and witness accounts.

  • Have you ever heard of a grand jury. They determined it was a lie meathead.

    • Oink, oink.

  • Block my comment if you want. I will post it on other sites.

    • I hope you’re getting paid by Daddy Hubert Arturo Acevedo for your pathetic efforts.

  • Let’s have an open forum. Bring your leader and I will bring mine. Let’s set a time and date. Let’s record it live. Please……………

    • If you were of any relevance that might be an interesting offer. But you’re a bootlicking nobody.

So, what do you think?