Live updates: Dallas local officials say violence and vandalism won’t be tolerated from protesters

Here’s what you need to know Sunday:

• Austin rally canceled over safety concerns

• Austin-area Democrats issue statement condemning police, protester violence

• U.S. Rep. Chip Roy calls for congressional investigation

• George Floyd to be buried in Houston, mayor says

Austin organizers cancel Sunday rally over safety concerns

Organizers have canceled a protest planned in Austin due to concerns that “white folk … and other agitators of color” would have hijacked the event and risked the safety of black protesters there.

“It’s a risk just to exist in a black body in this country,” Chas Moore with the Austin Justice Coalition said this morning on a Facebook Live broadcast. “There’s no way under my watch … that we can ask people to come out and potentially have black bodies in harm’s way.”

The protest was originally slated to happen this afternoon near the Texas Capitol. Moore cited “rumors” that others involved with Saturday night’s protest in the city were planning to “hijack” today’s event. “When I look at what’s going on in Austin, when I look at the mess that happened last night, I look at white people burning stuff up,” he said.

“White folk, white agitators and other agitators of color that are using this moment in the name of black lives … there’s no way I can ask you to come out and ask you to be in harm’s way.” — Cassandra Pollock

Austin-area Democrats issue statement condemning police, protester violence

Six Austin-area Democrats serving in the Texas House issued a joint statement Sunday morning expressing their support for those “peacefully protesting” the deaths of black people killed by police violence, including Breonna Taylor, Michael Ramos and George Floyd.

“The long history of systemic racism and brutality in American law enforcement systems require immediate and significant reform and accountability,” the members wrote.

The Democrats — Eddie Rodriguez, Donna Howard, Celia Israel, Gina Hinojosa, Sheryl Cole and Vikki Goodwin — noted that they “do not condone any violence, including police violence.” They wrote that they condemn attacks by police forces nationwide who have “shot at, tear gassed, shoved or hit” those protesting, but also repudiate “the attacks on our firefighters, police, EMS and other first responders who are working in good faith to facilitate constructive and conflict-free expressions of protest.”

“Moving forward we are hopeful that today’s protest, and those that continue across Texas and the United States, will remain peaceful and that we can begin to address the underlying causes of this unrest. We need serious reform of law enforcement, and accountability across the system,” the group says. — Alex Samuels

U.S. Rep. Chip Roy calls for Congress to investigate protests

In a tweet Sunday morning, U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, threatened to use his congressional powers to determine whether anti-fascist activists known as antifa are behind the protests rocking the state’s major Texas cities following the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed Monday in Minneapolis police custody.

He also questioned whether some of the people protesting Floyd’s death should’ve been jailed but were perhaps released as some big-city officials released inmates deemed low risk to the community from local jails during the coronavirus pandemic. Epidemiologists and prisoner rights advocates have said that because disease tends to spread throughout cramped, often unsanitary prisons and jails, the virus endangers inmates, staff and the local communities.

“I will be calling on Congressional hearings to determine, to the extent possible, how many of the leaders & key participants of the riots & looting have been 1) Antifa, and/or 2) folks not behind bars because of reaction to the corona virus and/or any recent policy changes,” Roy wrote.

Roy has been vocal against state and local leaders who haven’t condemned the protests. He also praised the Austin Police Department on Saturday night for utilizing less lethal bean bag rounds against protestors in the city.

“Secure Austin,” Roy wrote. — Alex Samuels

George Floyd to be buried in Houston, mayor says

The body of George Floyd, a black man who was killed Monday in Minneapolis police custody, will return to Houston for burial, according to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. Floyd was a longtime resident of Houston’s Third Ward.

“His body is coming back to the city of Houston,” Turner said on Houston’s Majic 102.1 radio station this morning. “We certainly want to pay tribute to him and uplift his family, his siblings, other members of his family, his friends.”

No additional details have been released. The Houston Chronicle reported Saturday that a GoFundMe page set up by Floyd’s brother has raised over $4.6 million. Those funds will help pay for the funeral, burial and court costs, among other things. — Cassandra Pollock

Dallas mayor considers implementing curfew

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said Sunday morning that city leaders will consider implementing a curfew in response to the protests spurred by the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed in Minneapolis police custody earlier this week.

“I think we have to look at it, but the issue with curfews is this: Curfews are a law enforcement tool — it’s not something that you impose without there having to be any change in your policing strategy,” Johnson told WFAA-TV reporter Jason Whitely. “The police department needs to tell the decision makers — in this case, the city manager and myself — that that’s a tool that they need.”

Law enforcement has not yet asked officials to implement a curfew in the city, Johnson said. But if they do, he said, “I think we will have no problem with implementing something like that.” — Cassandra Pollock

Dallas leaders condemn vandalism and violence

In Dallas, hundreds of protesters marched this weekend in honor of George Floyd, a Minneapolis black man who was killed in police custody after an officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes. Many protesters demonstrated peacefully, while some damaged properties, took from businesses and vandalized cars, according to The Dallas Morning News.

On Saturday, Mayor Eric Johnson and police Chief U. Renee Hall said the violence would not be tolerated.

“But we also unfortunately saw some reckless behavior from a small group of people whose agendas had nothing to do with human rights or civil rights,” Johnson said, according to The Dallas Morning News. “They exploited a collective cry for help for their own personal gain by looting. They chose to destroy things at a time when we should be building each other up, and we just can’t allow that. Not in Dallas.” — Rebekah Allen

San Antonio mayor imposes curfew

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg issued a curfew from 11:30 p.m. Saturday until 6 a.m. Sunday as a result of escalating tensions at protests. The curfew bans people from the San Antonio downtown business district during those hours. Another curfew is effective from 10 p.m. Sunday until 6 a.m. Monday.

“This brief curfew will protect the safety of people and property in the downtown business district while allowing the vast majority of people to peacefully assemble,” Nirenberg said in a statement.

“The planned demonstrations from earlier today were peaceful and the organizations did exactly what they said they would do to keep others safe. The situation was escalated by some bad actors whose only intent was to incite violence and cause destruction. The actions of a few do not represent the majority of those who came out to peacefully demonstrate,” said San Antonio police Chief William McManus.

Violation of the curfew is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 180 days in jail. — Rebekah Allen

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