Austin ICE protests: Multiple people arrested; police give update
Austin anti-ICE protest ends with several arrests
The protest in Austin on Monday started at the state capitol but later took an ugly turn. The APD chief said they will respect the right to protest but will not tolerate violence
AUSTIN - Austin police held a news conference Tuesday to discuss the response to the anti-ICE protests on Monday night.
Police Chief Lisa Davis released details about the protests, including arrests and injuries to officers.
Davis on protests
FULL: Austin police chief on anti-ICE protests
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis spoke on Monday's anti-ICE protests in downtown Austin.
Timeline:
Davis and APD provided a more detailed timeline of events from Monday night.
The protest began at the Texas Capitol, which was closed at the time, then moved through downtown, eventually ending at the JJ Pickle Federal Building. APD says that there, individuals began defacing the building with graffiti. Two people were arrested for criminal mischief for the graffiti.
Officers then issued dispersal orders and moved the crowd west along 8th Street. APD says that "tensions escalated shortly after" the arrests with agitators throwing rocks at officers and one officer getting spit on in the eye.
Austin protests lead to several arrests
The anti-ICE protest over the last 24 hours has led to more than a dozen arrests and vandalism in downtown Austin. The organization that led the protest and local law enforcement spoke out about the chain of events
Officers briefly withdrew in an attempt to deescalate, but the crowd advanced. Officers deployed pepper balls towards the ground and DPS deployed gas to disperse the crowd.
APD says that smaller groups splintered off, with some throwing scooters and barricades into roadways. Officers contained the situation near 7th Street and Congress Avenue. Multiple arrests were made, and the remaining protesters eventually dispersed.
Four officers were injured, and all have been treated and released. Three were struck by rocks and one suffered a shoulder injury during an arrest and was also spit on.
The arrests
Eight people were arrested by APD on Monday night:
- Conor Williams, charged with criminal mischief
- Abigail Pore, charged with criminal mischief
- Alexandra Haddix, charged with failure to obey a lawful order
- Cody Bates, charged with harassment of a public servant
- Edgar Tovar, charged with reckless driving
- Shaneal Harun, charged with riot and resisting arrest
- Margarito Perez Montalvo, charged with interference with public duties and resisting arrest
- Hayden Perez, charged with failure to obey a lawful order and harassment of a public servant
According to jail records, Williams, Pore, Bates, and Perez are still in the Travis County Jail as of 1 p.m. Tuesday.
What's next:
APD says that it is preparing for additional demonstrations in the coming days, including an increased and visible presence throughout the city.
APD says it is "leveraging technology to help us monitor and respond more effectively to unfolding events, ensuring we maintain both accountability and transparency".
APD is also urging anyone participating in demonstrations to do so peacefully and report any suspicious or dangerous behavior to 911 and leave the scene.
Chief Davis says the plan for Saturday includes sending uniformed officers into the gathering. She called it "dialogue policing." The idea is to talk to those at the gathering about peaceful protesting and to identify those who she described as "bad actors."
Texas DPS on protests
What they're saying:
Texas DPS followed APD with a statement of its own on its response to the protest, saying its personnel deployed tear gas and pepper balls "to ensure officer safety and maintain order."
"Texas is a law-and-order state. DPS will continue monitoring future events and their impact on public safety across the state, and we stand ready to protect the people and property of the great state of Texas," DPS said.
DPS arrested five people:
- Alvin Jarret Talley, charged with felony criminal mischief and resisting arrest
- Hiram Gilberto Garcia, charged with resisting arrest
- Zakk Wylde Bonham, charged with felony criminal mischief and resisting arrest
- Luis Davila, charged with felony criminal mischief
- William Haraway, charged with assault by contact and public intoxication
The five were booked into the Travis County Jail and as of 4:30 p.m., all but Haraway were still in custody.
Austin anti-ICE protests
The backstory:
More than a dozen demonstrators were arrested by APD and Texas DPS at the protests in Austin on Monday night, according to Gov. Greg Abbott.
The protest was organized by the Party for Socialism and Liberation in support of the protests in Los Angeles and to demand an end to the Trump administration's deportation campaign.
Hundreds of demonstrators arrived at the Texas State Capitol on Monday night holding signs, waving flags and chanting.
A group of demonstrators took to the streets of downtown Austin, eventually making their way to the J.J. Pickle Federal Building, where immigrants have been held.
Demonstrators threw scooters and dragged cones and signs into the streets.
Video obtained by FOX 7 shows one protester holding what appears to be an unlit Molotov cocktail.
Crowds were eventually dispersed by tear gas.
Austin police posted on social media that the crowd had left the downtown area shortly after 11 p.m.
What they're saying:
"Peaceful protesting is legal, but once you cross the line, you will be arrested," wrote Gov. Abbott.
"We are united. We are going to voice our concerns, we're going to voice our anger," said Laiba Khan, an organizer for the Party for Socialism and Liberation early in the protest.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Austin Police Department, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and FOX 7 coverage of the protests.