Why are police using bean bag rounds? APA answers

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in downtown Austin

As the protest carried into the night, a car and a dumpster were set on fire in front of APD headquarters.

AUSTIN, Texas - During the George Floyd protests, Austin police have been seen firing "less-than-lethal rounds" into crowds of demonstrators, and now the Austin Police Association has answered why such munitions have been used.

APA explains that police use bean bag rounds, pepper spray, and "less than lethal" munitions in order to keep protesters from throwing debris like rocks, bottles, and other dangerous items at police.

Police were seen using these munitions on protesters who were trying to gain access to I-35 in order to block traffic as well as protesters who gathered out front of APD's headquarters.

During the protests on Saturday, a police spokesperson said that 14 people were arrested. So far five have been arrested on Sunday.