Join Us: Request for Department of Justice to Investigate the Austin Police Department.
Uniting Against Austin Police Department's pattern or practice of unlawful conduct
A coalition of community organizations, including the Austin Area Urban League, Austin Community Law Center, Austin Justice Coalition, Austin NAACP, Equity Action, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, have jointly sent a letter to Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, urging the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct an independent investigation into the Austin Police Department’s pattern or practice of unlawful conduct violating residents’ constitutional rights.
“The long-standing practices of the Austin Police Department, especially but not limited to the action taken during the 2020 demonstrations against the Department’s excessive force must be investigated and rectified. Let us be clear — we appreciate all first-responders who wear their badge with honor and dignity, but cannot stand for the manifestation of violence from systemic inequity and bias that continues to plague our communities.”
Yasmine Smith, Esq., Vice-President of Justice and Advocacy with the Austin Area Urban League
Show your support for the investigation by adding your name to a list of supporters and uploading videos of personal statements regarding the patterns and practices of the Austin Police Department that give rise to a Department of Justice investigation.
“The Austin Police Department’s history of discrimination against Black people unsurprisingly includes a documented use of excessive force against them. We need a Department of Justice investigation to reduce the risk of constitutional rights violations and address the needs of the community.”
Oni Blair, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas
The Letter: A Call for a Pattern-or-Practice Investigation, Accountability and Reform to Protect Vulnerable Communities
“The Austin Police Department’s history of discrimination against Black people unsurprisingly includes a documented use of excessive force against them. We need a Department of Justice investigation to reduce the risk of constitutional rights violations and address the needs of the community.”
The letter (sent electronically 02/22/2024) outlines concerns about the Austin Police Department’s approach to law enforcement, citing a pattern of unnecessarily aggressive and unlawful policing. It highlights a toxic culture within the department that reinforces fear, hostility, and harmful stereotypes, particularly impacting Black, Brown, homeless, disabled, and other vulnerable communities.
The request for investigation stems from ongoing efforts by the community, in collaboration with the City Council, to reform the constitutional deficiencies deeply embedded in the Austin Police Department. Recent events, including the excessive force used during 2020 demonstrations against police violence, have underscored the urgent need for an external inquiry. The letter includes:
- A non-comprehensive list of incidents illustrating the pattern or practice of excessive force, discriminatory policing, and a culture of impunity within the Austin Police Department
- Discussion on the violent response to the 2020 protests, where police actions resulted in serious injuries to protesters
- A call for a pattern-or-practice investigation to address the longstanding deficiencies within the Austin Police Department
“The letter also emphasizes a culture of impunity and intentional discrimination on the basis of race.”
Press Release
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The community organizations express hope that an independent investigation by the Department of Justice will shed light on these issues, hold accountable those responsible, and contribute to necessary reforms within the Austin Police Department.