Activist groups say Austin Police Violence is Creating Racial Tension

Articles earlier this year that reported that between 1998 and 2003, police were twice as likely to use force against blacks as against whites, and 25 percent more likely to use force against Hispanics than against whites. During that period, police used deadly force against 11 people. All but one were minorities.  The U.S. Department of Justice, FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office are all conducting investigations to determine if the shooting victims' civil rights were violated. On June 18, the NAACP filed a complaint with the Justice Department that outlined other alleged civil rights abuses by officers and requested that federal funds to the Austin Police Department be put on hold until those cases were investigated. [more]