Reliably Austin
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Ferguson Protests Across U.S. Include Rally and March in Austin

Hundreds of people packed the area outside of the Austin Police Department headquarters Tuesday night for a rally and march in support of Michael Brown, the Ferguson, Mo., teenager shot and killed by a police officer earlier this year. They shouted slogans like "justice for Mike Brown" and "hands up, don't shoot."

Activists at the event expressed anger that a St. Louis County grand jury declined to indict Darren Wilson, the Ferguson police officer who fatally shot unarmed Brown, who was 18 years old. An organizer's call to remember Brown after observing more than four minutes of silence was met with cheers and clapping.

Among the people in the crowd holding signs in the air was Jesus Valles, an AISD teacher who says minorities stand with the black community of Ferguson.

"I want to take a stand as a Mexicano, a Latino an inmigrante, to say that violence against marginalized people is an injustice," Valles said.

After more than an hour of chants and speeches, the crowds took off to march on 6th Street, as police cleared the streets from cars for the activists and watched. Unlike demonstrations in Ferguson and other cities, this protest ended without violence.

Related Content