Every Monday, The Austin Common staff shares what we’re reading, watching, and listening to. This week, we’re focusing our recommendations on racial justice and police reform issues. For more, follow us on Instagram – @the_austin_common.
Throughline podcast – American Police
This podcast from NPR shares the history of policing in America, providing some much-needed context for today’s conversation.
How Police Unions Became Such Powerful Opponents To Reform Efforts – New York Times
This super informative piece from the New York Times digs a little deeper into the current conversation over police reform, and shares one of the major barriers to implementing real change.
To Reform The Police, Target Their Union Contract
This op-ed, written by Austin Justice Coalition leaders Sukyi McMahon and Chas Moore in 2019, provides some good history on the police reform movement in Austin. A great read for those who are newer to the issue and want to gain a deeper understanding about what’s been done locally.
Video of the speeches from the March For Black Lives
On Sunday, thousands of Austinites gathered on the campus of Huston-Tillotson University for the Black Austin Rally and March for Black Lives, hosted by the Austin Justice Coalition. The event featured several leaders and community members speaking passionately about the Black Lives Matter movement and what we must do together as a city to fight for change and progress.
As Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette (president of Huston-Tilloston University) said, “be part of a movement, not just this moment.
Austin’s special-called City Council meeting on recent protests
“I’m tired of talking… We all should feel bad and feel sad. This is not mine or that of any other black or brown or otherwise marginalized person. This is all of ours. We all should feel sad and mad and demand that we stop talking. The outcry for justice, it’s been present, but we didn’t answer it.”
These are the words of Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, as she spoke at the special-called City Council meeting held Thursday afternoon in response to protests over police violence and racial inequities in this city.
“We need action,” Natasha said. “We need justice. And we need it right now.”
