Airing of grievances
Local activists are angered by decision not to indict officers in Taylor case
More than 50 people gathered downtown Friday afternoon to add their voices to a national protest sparkedby a decision not to hold officers responsible for the death of Breonna Taylor.
Lexi Qaiyyim, an organizer of the protest in San Antonio, said the week has been tiresome and that the decision has filled her with anxiety.
On March 13, Taylor was asleep when she was killed by Louisville, Ky., police during a botched drug raid at her apartment.
None of officers who shot and killed Taylor has been criminally charged, a decision this week that brought widespread anger and protests in numerous cities.
Instead, former Louisville police detective Brett Hankinsonwas indicted onwanton endangerment for firing blindly into another apartment the night of the raid.
“If I get pulled over in my car by myself, who is going to be there for me?” said Qaiyyim, who is with the Young Ambitious Activists. “I am having to trust and hope that there isn't a single thing that could give police any inkling of fearing for their lives.”
Outside Public Safety Headquarters, Anthony Sanchez's
voice grew hoarse as he aired his grievances about the San Antonio City Council and police.
Sanchez, also an organizer, said hewas tired of seeing history repeat itself as he led the group in a march from the Bexar County Courthouse to police headquarters.
Organizer Josey Garcia said the case highlights what they want the most: the ability to hold police accountable.
As they stood outside police headquarters, several people signed a petition calling for the repeal of state government chapters 143, which governs matters affecting public officers, and 174, a code that outlines collective bargaining for police.
Some leaders have said a change is needed in Chapter 143, including former Mayor Julián Castro, who said in June that the code often overlays and pre-empts the ability of cities to make meaningful reforms.
Sanchez, who teaches juniors at East Central High School, said Chapter 143 in particular keeps officers from being held accountable, while Chapter 174 can potentially keep the other code alive.
“We have to cut both to change the system,” Sanchez said.
Organizer Amanda Moon also spoke out against the city’s decision to boost police spending, with a total $487 million allocated to SAPD for the 2020-21 fiscal year.
“They declared racism to be a public health crisis, but what have they done about it?” she asked. “Instead they decided SAPD needed a raise.”
Moon said City Council members ignored more than 20,000 comments from constituents, many of whom asked that funds be redirected to public services struggling during the pandemic including health care, education and housing.
“Defunding of police is not about anarchy but taking care of the people,” Sanchez said. “If you are a financial fiscal conservative, it’s just a natural balancing of the budget.”