Austin City Council hears from community on police response to weekend protests

Beginning May 30, protestors marched the streets of Austin to voice their anger and frustration over the deaths of George Floyd and Michael Ramos.

Floyd was killed May 25 in police custody in Minneapolis. The four officers on the scene have been fired and charged with crimes, including a charge of second-degree murder for former officer Derek Chauvin, who knelt on Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds.

On April 24, Michael Ramos was killed in Southeast Austin by police.

At least three demonstrators in Austin were seriously injured over the weekend, including a 20-year-old who remains in critical condition.

Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said 15 officers suffered minor injuries over the weekend.

Community Impact Newspaper Reporter Christopher Neely is covering the virtual meeting. On June 4, City Council heard from hundreds of Austinites who signed up to speak publicly. On June 5 at 9 a.m., Manley will deliver a briefing to council.

ATX SPECIAL CALLED MEETING THREAD: Austin's mayor and City Council members are preparing to listen to the community over the Austin Police Dept.'s response to last weekend's, at times, violent protests over the deaths of #GeorgeFloyd and #MichaelRamos, and police brutality.

— Christopher Neely (@TopherJNeely) June 4, 2020

"This is going to be an incredibly difficult conversation we're about to have, and part of that is changing the way we've done things in the past," Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza said as the dais prepared to dive in. #atxcouncil

— Christopher Neely (@TopherJNeely) June 4, 2020

D4 City Council Member Greg Casar said people dont want to be out protesting but they feel like they have to in order for their gov't to respond. #atxcouncil

— Christopher Neely (@TopherJNeely) June 4, 2020

D1's Natasha Harper-Madison, city council's lone Black representative, calls out Police Chief Brian Manley for not having his camera on in the Zoom call (Cisco webex). She demanded that he have his camera on so today's speakers can look at him while they speak. #atxcouncil

— Christopher Neely (@TopherJNeely) June 4, 2020

The brother of the 16yo kid who was shot in the head with a bean bag round by police during protests is trying to get words in between weeps. He and his mom thought he was going to die. Emphasizes the bean bags are not innocuous. Said they want to know the truth from police.

— Christopher Neely (@TopherJNeely) June 4, 2020

Casar references the video of Edwin's brother getting shot. He said the chief's and mgr's answers are not enough. Edwin's brother was standing by himself when he was shot. "Your answers are insufficient," Casar said. #atxcouncil

— Christopher Neely (@TopherJNeely) June 4, 2020

Harper-Madison said it was problematic that Austin Police union boss Ken Casaday is not on the call. She urges him to join after dinner. #atxcouncil

— Christopher Neely (@TopherJNeely) June 4, 2020

The last speaker asked all of the council members where they were during the *days* of protests. Says they had social media, they saw the police shooting at crowds and being aggressive but none of them showed up. She wonders if their presence would have saved the worst injuries.

— Christopher Neely (@TopherJNeely) June 5, 2020