Austin City Council holds special meeting to discuss protests and APD's response
AUSTIN, Texas - The Austin City Council held a special called meeting on Thursday to discuss and debate the protests in the city and the way police handled them.
Two men were critically injured during last weekend's protests after being hit in the head by bean bag rounds fired by Austin police and a pregnant woman was struck in the stomach.
Austin City Council member Leslie Pool uses her time to read a letter from a resident in her district
Leslie Pool read a letter by a resident on her district during the Austin City Council special meeting regarding the police's response to protests in Austin.
Those incidents have led to an investigation and a discussion over the use of force by officers.
Austin Police Chief Brian Manley recently said that he's reviewing the department's tactics. He says the use of lethal rounds was in response to instigators who infiltrated protests to commit violence but admitted that they didn't always hit the right target.
Chief Manley says that while some incidents didn't go the way they wanted, he says officers performed admirably under extremely challenging circumstances.
Council member Casar is offering specific changes to be adopted by APD
Austin City Council member Casar offers specific changes to be adopted by APD during special meeting discussing APD's response to protests.
RELATED: City Council calls for emergency hearings into police tactics after clashes with protestors
Austin Mayor Steve Adler spoke about the protests in his most recent "Got A Minute" segment and says that we have to hold those who did wrong accountable.
Mayor Adler says real change is uncomfortable but we have to lean into that discomfort to have lasting change.
Council member Natasha Harper-Madison implores APD Chief Manley to turn on his camera
Natasha Harper-Madison asked APD Chief Manley to turn on his camera so people may look him in the face when they speak to him, and he may look back at them.
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Brother of Brad Levi Ayala speaks at special meeting held by Austin City Council
The brother of the 16-year-old boy who is undergoing neurological testing after an officer with APD shot him in the head Saturday with a “less lethal” bean-bag round gave a heartbreaking speech at Austin City Council's special meeting.
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APD Chief Manley is asked what APD is doing to make sure what happened to Brad Levi Ayala never happens again
APD Chief Manley was asked what APD is doing to make sure what happened to Brad Levi Ayala never happens again.
