A whole new group of protesters has arrived at the state capitol. Just heard one shout “Stop killing black people!” #austinprotest@KVUE
Seems to be a steady trickle of protesters arriving consistently over the past few minutes. Most have turned down Congress Ave toward city hall. @ToriLarnedtv and @MariSalazarTV are there with the larger group of protesters. @KVUE#AustinProtest
Right outside the Capitol Grounds, protesters have stockpiled water and snacks to keep the group fueled. #AustinProtest
Another protester subgroup has started marching toward city hall, chanting “I Can’t Breathe” - one of the hallmark chants of #GeorgeFloyd protests across the country. @KVUE#AustinProtest
Here’s some of that graffiti we saw yesterday on the J. J. Jake Pickle Federal building downtown. @KVUE#AustinProtest
More protesters have started to gather outside Capitol Grounds. @TxDPS officers have arrived on the street now too. @KVUE#AustinProtests
More protesters have arrived from the direction of I-35 chanting “No Justice, No Peace” @KVUE#Austinprotests
Another angle of the protesters who have gathered at the Capitol. @KVUE#AustinProtests
The chant has turned into a roar from this smaller group of protesters (compared to those at city hall). @KVUE#AustinProtests
This group has started approaching the fence now chanting “Black Lives Matter!” #AustinProtests@KVUE
Protesters here at the Capitol are still chanting, while just blocks away at City Hall, officers have fired bean bag rounds into the crowd there. @tplohetski is live on @KVUE now.
A @TxDPS unit passes through the Congress Avenue/11th street intersection while the crowd swells and spills over into the street. Protesters are now right up on the gates of the Capitol Grounds. #AustinProtests
Officers are blocking off streets here, but occasionally people will drive toward the Capitol on Congress Ave. @KVUE#AustinProtests
At ground level, protesters are continuing to chant #ICantBreathe as the crowd fills the entire intersection. Far more people here now than just 10 minutes ago. @KVUE#Austinprotests
Along with signs, people are bringing flags in support of #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd protests.
Marchers from City Hall have rejoined the Capitol Grounds protesters to cheers and applause. @KVUE#AustinProtests
Protesters on the move now heading in the direction of APD, although they have not said exactly where they’re going. @KVUE#AustinProtests
Unclear where these barriers came from, but protesters have blocked SB traffic on I-35. Not seeing any law enforcement presence yet. @KVUE#AustinProtests
Officers are calling on protesters to get off I-35. Many @Austin_Police officers have gone up onto the interstate to make sure protesters leave the roadway. @KVUE#AustinProtests
The bridge has been cleared, unclear if these were firecrackers/fireworks like what we saw last night, or some sort of gas canister from police. @KVUE#AustinProtests
Another APD unit has arrived to support those who are already on the I-35 overpass. @KVUE#AustinProtests
OFFICIAL CORRECTION: @Austin_Police officers used smoke bombs or something similar to disperse the crowd, not tear gas, according to @tplohetski. @KVUE
Protesters have now moved from @Austin_Police HQ. Moving south on Trinity now. @KVUE
Lot of support from those stopped at Trinity/7th streets now. Signs, cheers and honks from cars. @KVUE#AustinProtests
Protesters have paused at 6th and Trinity, very close to wear the city saw looting last night. @KVUE#austinprotests
Quite a juxtaposition: people hanging out to eat and drink at bars while protesters crowd 6th street and call out their message. @KVUE#AustinProtests#protests2020
PROFANITY WARNING: Protesters have stopped here outside Iron Cactus Mexican Restaurant to spread their message. @KVUE#AustinProtests
Protesters now marching down 7th toward Congress and heading back up to the Capitol. @QuitaC_KVUE and @tplohetski are there now. @KVUE
A couple of protesters on bikes are stopping traffic as the rest of the crowd marched through the streets. @KVUE#austinprotests
After arriving at the Capitol, protesters are chanting while also invoking Jesus’ name in the form of a sermon. @KVUE#AustinProtests
“Mark these words, God has heard the cry of his people!”
Protesters chanting say his name as a sign of people killed by police passes by. @KVUE#AustinProtests
A woman has climbed the stoplight leading chants for the protesters still here in front of the Texas capitol grounds. @KVUE#AustinProtests#GeorgeFloyd
Protesters setting off fireworks again tonight, but this time not under the I-35 overpass. @KVUE#AustinProtests
People have broken into the Shell Gas Station here at 35 and 7th. @KVUE#AustinProtests
Talking to some officers here, most if not all of the department is here. Some officers agree with the protest, but not with breaking into businesses and gas stations. @KVUE#AustinProtests
Today, @TravisCoClerk is showing media one of four mail-in ballot drop-off locations. This is at 700 Lavaca Street, Austin. @GovAbbott just announced counties can only have ONE mail-in ballot drop-off location starting tomorrow (citing ballot security and pandemic concerns).
From @TravisCoClerk, “this is deliberate.” Calling this an attack on voting operations, she said it happens everyday - “it happened yesterday, it’ll happen tomorrow. I will fight this in court.” @KVUE
Here are the four locations for voters to drop off mail-in ballots: Live location: 700 Lavaca Parking Garage, Guadalupe entrance.
5501 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
Travis County 700 Lavaca Parking Garage, Austin, TX
Today, @GovAbbott is pledging to #BacktheBlue. As part of new legislation, cities that defund police departments will lose the power to annex communities. Previously annexed communities can vote to separate themselves from the city that annexed them. kvue.com/article/news/l…
It is important for police to know that "this defunding garbage is garbage. The silent majority supports them." - @RepDennisBonnen
Now @KennethCasaday speaking, if people are not signing this pledge, "it shows your weak leadership and your weak personality." @ATXPOA streaming on @KVUE now.
After thinking long and hard about crossing Joe Tanner Lane at McCarty Lane (near 290), this driver made the right decision to #TurnAroundDontDrown. This rain has brought a lot of water to these smaller creeks. @KVUE@ErikaLopezKVUE@Hunt_Wx@marielruizwx
Just down the road, @HeikkiMikael captured this guy walking his bike across the flooded roadway. “Did you have to cross for work or something?” “Nah I just wanted to. 🤙” @KVUE The rain has slowed for now but not enough to slow down the waterways.
There’s a reason these signs are an obnoxious yellow, block the road, and flash. #TurnAroundDontDrown
We know from @CedarParkPD multiple officers were shot. I talked with a neighbor who tells me officers have told him and his dad to stay inside. SWAT is still on scene. Neighbor sent me this video:
Another photo from a neighbor who tells me he’s heard some of the negotiations between SWAT and suspect but couldn’t make out the words. He’s still in his home until police give all clear. @KVUE
Coming up on @KVUE at 6: @USPS sent this letter to @TXsecofstate on 7/30 warning if people mail in votes on the last possible day allowed in TX, the ballots may arrive to late to count toward the 2020 election based on current delivery pace for first-class mail.
“...Specifically, it appears that a voter may generally request a ballot as late as 11 days before the election, and that a competed ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the day after the election to be counted. It also appears that law...” 2/
“...does not appear to require election officials to transmit a ballot by mail until seven days after receiving a ballot application. If a voter submits a request at or near the ballot-request deadline, and if the requested ballot is mailed to the voter 7 days after...” 3/