Don’t Mess With Texas

Gem was shot with a rubber bullet by the police during the May 30th protests in Austin and had to have an emergency plastic surgery, nearly losing motor skills in his arm.

Gem

“The police brought violence upon us,” Gem says. “They treated us like wild animals.”

East Austin

House in East Austin

Friends on Airport Boulevard

“I was born and raised in Austin, and I ran into these men while on Airport Blvd. They spoke about the current state of our city and that, although in many ways it’s always been a racist city, they still do not want to see it burn. As one of them put it: “That’s not how my momma raised me.”

Satterius and Phillip

Satterius and Phillip are Texas-based clothing designers and artists. They explained how the pandemic had affected their business, and how the current political climate is also bringing changes to what the future looks like for black people in America. 

Quentin

Quentin is a queer artist and activist. They spoke at a rally the weekend that the protests started and their position in Black Lives Matter movement, which includes advocating for black queer voices. “There is still a phobia within our own minority,” they said.

84’s

These photographs were taken at a family-owned tire shop in East Austin.

Grill

Verde and Kaylen

Verde and Kaylen attended the initial protest and spoke about their concerns as young black people living in central Texas, in particular how police profile the skateboarding community.

Skateboarding

Kaylen (right) shared her concerns as a mixed black woman, especially surrounding missing people cases involving young women.

Private Stock

Private Stock is a boutique and streetwear retailer, and notably one of the few black-owned businesses on 6th Street in Austin. But it was vandalized and looted on May 30th, 2020.

6th Street

Kyla and Teeta

Young couple Kyla and Teeta are expecting a baby boy in August, and they shared their dreams for their son.

August Due Date

Kyla, who is due in August, spoke about the experience of carrying a child during a pandemic and the anxiety associated with the coronavirus.

Kyla and Teeta

Quarantine

Rachel is the mother of three young children. She spoke about the effects of the lockdown and protest on her and her children, the stress of the transition to online schooling under stay-at-home orders as her job also moved to remote work.

Black Lives Matter

Protesters marching from the city capitol to the police headquarters.

Bike Police

Bike police rode alongside the march in Austin, restricting its path and direction.  

Some protest organizers say: “The protest should last at least 50 days to show city officials that the people are serious in their efforts around police reform.”