Austin Justice Coalition calls on city to defund Austin Police Department

Austin Justice Coalition cancels George Floyd protest over safety concerns

The Executive Director of the Austin Justice Coalition, Chas Moore, joins FOX 7 Austin to speak on what lead the organization to cancel their planned protest on Sunday.

AUSTIN, Texas - The Austin Justice Coalition is calling on the city to defund the Austin Police Department.

Since last week, protests have begun around the nation over the death of Minnesota man George Floyd. The city of Austin has seen mostly peaceful protests, with protesters seeking justice for both Floyd and Mike Ramos, an Austin man who died in police shooting earlier this year.

Protests in Austin take a different tone

The protests in Austin took a different tone on Monday night.

Now, AJC is calling on the Austin City Council to make changes to the department during the next city council meeting on Thursday.

AJC is calling on the city to fire Police Chief Brain Manley as well as the officers involved in the Ramos police shooting. AJC also called for the city to divest APD and instead invest money in "health, housing & direct pandemic assistance by reallocating at least $70 million for the RISE fund to cover basic needs of Austin families most impacted by the pandemic."

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"We are calling on the Austin City Council to become these courageous leaders by pledging to defund the Austin Police Department and invest in the resources that really keep us safe and healthy, especially in Black communities, Indigenous communities, and communities of color," AJC stated.

AJC has called on the community of Austin to ask city council to cut the following programs that "overtly perpetuate racial profiling and a culture of violence."

Funding for new officers and the new cadet class
Weapons used against protesters
Fusion Center
Surveillance
Driver License readers
AISD police force

"Our city is on edge, our people are hurting, and Black communities are crying out for health and safety in the midst of a pandemic. Now is the time to invest in a safe, liberated future for our city. We can't afford to keep funding APD's attacks on Black lives," AJC stated.

Austin Mayor Steve Adler talks about recent protests - 6/2/2020

For the third straight day, protesters gathered in downtown Austin to rally against police brutality. Mayor Adler talks more about that and how the city will address concerns of protesters.

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