Hundreds warn City Council to slash Austin police's budget or 'we will show you out'

Austin City Council members might have the final say in how much money is budgeted to the city’s Police Department, but residents reminded them Thursday that it is they who have the final say on who sits on the council.

Hundreds of Austinites with concerns about the Police Department’s treatment of peaceful protesters and people of color flooded the City Council meeting Thursday and described an $11.3 million proposed reduction to the department’s budget — an amount significantly smaller than the cuts that activists and community members had requested — as “offensive,” “unacceptable,” and “a slap in the face.”

Speakers called for much deeper cuts, and many of them warned council members that the political careers of those elected representatives who ignored their demands would be in peril.

“You see what happens when you don’t listen to your constituents,” said a caller during the council meeting, which was held virtually.

Read more: https://www.statesman.com/news/20200723/hundreds-warn-city-council-to-slash-austin-policersquos-budget-or-lsquowe-will-show-you-outrsquo