For a change, that’s not Code Pink holding a “hula-hoops for peace” demonstration outside of the White House. Instead, it’s a contingent of the Huey P. Newton Gun Club that convened in front of the Capitol in Austin, Texas Monday in support of legislation that would place further reporting responsibility on police in cases of injuries and deaths involving peace officers and require body-worn cameras.
Black Panthers are lined up outside the Capitol, chanting that police are "guilty" for recent shooting deaths #txlege pic.twitter.com/cHAMbprgwU
— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) March 16, 2015
Black Panthers say they're here to support #HB1036 (third-party probes of officer-involved shootings) and #SB158 (body cameras). #txlege
— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) March 16, 2015
chants of "fuck the police" at #txlege pic.twitter.com/eLmc84r6eN
— John Savage (@JohnSavageTX) March 16, 2015
Dallas Morning News reporter Brittney Martin clarifies that the Huey P. Newton Gun Club, though named for the co-founder of the Black Panthers, is only loosely affiliated with the Black Panther Party.
Gun group loosely affiliated with Black Panther Party marches at Texas Capitol | @dallasnews @beedotmartin http://t.co/CVzB9P8HCH #txlege
— Claire Cardona (@clairezcardona) March 16, 2015
We conduct armed self defense patrols because police repression is endemic in the US. http://t.co/d8Vsbfcz1v#SXSW pic.twitter.com/wXTMPaGy3q
— Huey P. Newton Gun Club – Alpha Company (@HueyGunClub) March 16, 2015
TODAY: #BlackOpenCarry responds to ongoing police terrorism in #Austin.
Read More: http://t.co/d8Vsbfcz1v#M16 #SXSW pic.twitter.com/IECpkMkvYU— Huey P. Newton Gun Club – Alpha Company (@HueyGunClub) March 16, 2015
@clairezcardona @dallasnews @BeeDotMartin It's impressive that all their boss' let them off work for this? Wow.
— Peter Mueller (@PeterMueller101) March 16, 2015
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The House bill would require each law enforcement agency to conduct an internal investigation into every officer-involved injury or death, submit its findings to the attorney general within 72 hours, and post a copy of the report to the Internet within five days. The Senate bill would require certain law enforcement officers to wear and be trained in the use of body-worn cameras.
Black Panther protesters leaving Capitol #txlege pic.twitter.com/ILN5hdwUrl
— John Savage (@JohnSavageTX) March 16, 2015
What about the gun bills being argued inside the Capitol building?
They didn't specifically show up for the gun bills being debated today at the Capitol, but "we're all for those," an organizer says. #txlege
— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) March 16, 2015
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