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Police brutality in Texas

Austin protesters clash with police in the wake of Garrett Foster's death

Saturday marked another night of demonstrations against police brutality in Austin, but tensions were heightened because of last week's shooting death of Garrett Foster, a 28-year-old protester, by a man who has not been charged.

By Jordan Vonderhaar
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Armed protesters guard the memorial to Garrett Foster, who was shot and killed during a protest against police brutality in Austin last weekend.
Armed protesters guard the memorial of Garrett Foster, who was shot and killed during a protest against police brutality in Austin on July 25, 2020. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for the Texas Tribune

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Throughout the summer, cities in Texas and around the country have seen protests and demonstrations against police brutality. On Saturday, protesters and law enforcement clashed in Austin, a week after protester Garrett Foster, who was openly carrying an AK-47 rifle — which is legal in Texas — was shot and killed by Daniel Perry, a U.S. Army sergeant, when he approached his car. Perry drove away, then called the police. Perry was released without being charged. Since then, questions have been raised about who was the aggressor.

Foster’s death fueled tensions Saturday night in the downtown streets of the state capital as demonstrators again gathered and local and state police turned out in massive force. Tribune photographer Jordan Vonderhaar was there to document the protest. Here’s what he saw.

State Police in riot gear form a line along Congress Ave. and advance towards protesters to remove them from the street during clashes between police and protesters in downtown Austin on Aug. 1, 2020.
State police in riot gear form a line along Congress Avenue and advance toward protesters to remove them from the street. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar
Armed protest sympathizers ride in the back of a pickup truck from a rally on the University of Texas campus to a memorial for Garrett Foster in downtown Austin, minutes after hearing of clashes between protesters and police.
A man with a sniper rifle slung over his shoulder stands among protesters who have gathered at the Garrett Foster memorial in downtown Austin on Aug. 1, 2020.
First: Armed protesters ride in the back of a pickup truck from a rally at the University of Texas to a memorial for Garrett Foster in downtown Austin, minutes after hearing of clashes between other protesters and police. Last: A man with a sniper rifle slung over his shoulder stands among protesters who have gathered at the Garrett Foster memorial in downtown Austin. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune
A protester confronts police in riot gear in downtown Austin on August 1, 2020.
A protester confronts police in riot gear. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for the Texas Tribune
Mounted officers from the Austin Police Department clash with protesters on the corner of Fourth St. and Congress Ave. in downtown Austin on Aug. 1, 2020.
Mounted officers from APD ride towards protesters on the corner of Fourth St. and S. Congress Ave in downtown Austin on Aug. 1, 2020.
First: Mounted officers from the Austin Police Department clash with protesters on the corner of Fourth Street and Congress Avenue in downtown Austin. Last: Police officers on horses and bicycles advance toward protesters. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune
Heavily armed state police in downtown Austin on Aug. 1, 2020.
State police in riot gear block protesters from gathering in the street in downtown Austin on Aug. 1, 2020.
State police were present large numbers. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for the Texas Tribune
A protester armed with a baseball bat kneels in the street with fist upraised as protesters clashed with police in downtown Austin on Aug. 1, 2020.
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for the Texas Tribune
Members of the far right ‘Proud boys’ militia stood across S. Congress Ave from the Garret Foster memorial in downtown Austin, and watched as protesters clashed with police on August 1, 2020.
Members of the far-right Proud Boys militia stand on Congress Avenue across from the Garrett Foster memorial in downtown Austin. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for the Texas Tribune
A woman in zip-tie handcuffs waits to be loaded onto a bus after being arrested during protests against police brutality in downtown Austin on Aug. 1, 2020.
Police load arrested protesters into a Travis County Sheriff’s Department bus. Several protestors were arrested after clashes with police in riot gear in downtown Austin on August 1, 2020.
First: A woman with her hands zip-tied waits to be loaded onto a bus after being arrested during protests against police brutality in downtown Austin. Last: Police load arrested protesters into a Travis County Sheriff Department bus. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for the Texas Tribune
A police officer sprays a protester with pepper spray as demonstrators clash with police in riot gear in downtown Austin on August 1, 2020.
A police officer sprays a protester with pepper spray as demonstrators clash with police in downtown Austin Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for the Texas Tribune
Protesters clash with police in riot gear in downtown Austin on August 1, 2020.
A heavy police presence marked Saturday's protest in downtown Austin. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune

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