Tuesday October 2 - No Tolerance … or Overkill

Tuesday October 2 - No Tolerance … or Overkill


We're standing in line for lunch. A police car pulls up in front of us, parked opposite the direction of the parking lines. An officer gets out and points at a black man walking down the side walk. He is told to put his hands and possessions on the hood of the police car. "What did I do? I just got out of jail."

A second police cruiser pulls up next to the first and a second officer gets out to observe. A few moments later a third cruiser pulls up across the street and puts its flashing lights on. A third officer gets out and comes to the scene.

The first officer and the black man are engaged in a conversation, and the black man is obviously frustrated. The officers confer among themselves They run the mans I.D. and issue him a ticket … for J-walking. In his case, he did not make it accross the street until after the "Walk" lights had changed.

The black man gathers his belongings and hurries down the walk to catch his bus. The officers continue conversing among themselves, looking around at the crowd of us whho are obviously interested in what is going on. One at a time they get in their cars and pull off behind each other. The car in front has his lights flashing. As the others catch up he turns off his lights.

Over the past several days similar incidents of harassment have occurred. I do not believe that I personally have anything to worry about though. Since I arrived in Austin and the beginning of this "crackdown" I have had my I.D. Checked several times and have no warrants pending. I have told officers exactly how I got here and what my intentions are, and have engaged several in pleasant conversation. They see me standing nearby when they are doing their duty and show no interest in me. I do what they ask me to … stay off the downtown streets in the evenings and night.

Addendum : Since I wrote this Mary has arrived and joined me. She is also witness to some of the doings of the police recently, including harassments and arrests for sitting on the sidewalk. This crackdown, I have been told by police officers, will continue through this month. Some being harassed and arrested I have no pity for, others are caught in between …