19 Austin Police Officers Indicted After Probe of 2020 Racial Justice Protests
Texas District Attorney José Garza announced the measures after a federal grand jury investigation of police actions during the protests, which left at least 11 people hospitalized.
Landwebs
In response to the completion of an investigation by a federal grand jury, Texas District Attorney José Garza has announced that several Austin police officers would be indicted on criminal charges for their treatment of protesters denouncing police violence and racial injustice in 2020, with attorneys for the officers confirming that 19 had been indicted in total, reports the New York Times. Several protesters were injured, and at least 11 hospitalized, after officers armed with “less-lethal” weapons, such as rubber bullets and beanbag rounds, confronted large crowds that intermittently blocked traffic on Interstate 35 through downtown Austin.
The police chief at the time announced that the department would no longer use beanbag rounds in crowds, and, most recently, the city approved settlements with two demonstrators who were injured during the protests. However, the city’s current police chief, Joseph Chacon, defended the response of his officers, who he said were often targeted by rocks, frozen water bottles and fireworks.
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