We Have an Issue: Seen and Heard
In this week’s cover story, the survivors of police violence at last May’s protests share their stories of continued trauma and search for justice
By Kimberley Jones, Fri., Feb. 5, 2021
When reporter Brant Bingamon asked Anthony Evans what compelled him to go Downtown in late May of last year, in the wake of the Mike Ramos and George Floyd murders, to protest against police brutality, this is what Anthony told Brant:
"We wanted the police to understand that it's not us against them, but that we just want to be seen and heard."
As we all know, those protests against police brutality were met with, well, more brutality. Scores of protesters were injured, some grievously so, including Anthony, who is pictured on our cover. The protests that dominated headlines and dinner table conversation last spring and summer have for many Austinites receded into their memory. Not so for Anthony, who has undergone multiple surgeries since he was shot in the jaw with a lead-pellet round by police.
In this week's cover story, we wanted Anthony and other protesters attacked by police that weekend in May to have the opportunity to have their stories told – to be seen and heard – and to ask why, nine months later, they're still waiting for justice.
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