Mayor Turner, Black Lives Matter Houston address the future of police oversight board
โMy thought process is that weโre stagnated,โ said Ashton P. Woods of Black Lives Matter Houston. But the push for policing reform also came with a call for transparency โ including throughout the reform process. We just want reasonable changeโDoug Griffith, president of the Houston Police Officers Union, said the union supports most of the recommendations made by the mayorโs task force. Overall, Griffith said the current disciplinary process is extensive and fair to all sides. Woods argued the union has slowed down the reform process, a claim the union denies.
Documents outlines law enforcementโs strategic plans, which included snipers, during George Floydโs burial in Pearland
PEARLAND โ Months after George Floyd was laid to rest in Pearland, law enforcement agencies have released its detailed plan and law enforcement presence during the procession. The documents also outlined an incident action plan that included the authorization of deadly force. Still, some were upset by the specifics of the plans and large turn-out by law enforcement. Pearland police argue the plans met the moment. The NAACP of Brazoria County also reacted to details outlined in the documents.
Listen: From civil rights to Black Lives Matter, opinions vary on importance of voting among Texans across generations
Many of these protestors have united around the rallying cry of defund the police; still, others have embraced the cause of the Black Lives Matter movement. With the 2020 election fast approaching, The Texas Tribune invited Texans of the civil rights and the Black Lives Matter eras to share their perspectives on voting. After wanting to see a change in their affluent, mainly white neighborhoods, they began organizing protests and rallies to bring the issues of Black Lives Matter to their neighbors front steps. Currently, Woods is a leader of Black Lives Matter Houston and has been a part of that organization since 2013. He currently works with Black Lives Matter Houston and has been organizing with the group for years.
Founder of Black Lives Matter Houston: "They don't have a choice but to hear us"
Ashton P. Woods, founder of Black Lives Matter Houston, leads protesters in Houston on May, 29 2020. Ashton P. Woods(Audio unavailable. Ashton P. Woods knows the many protests in response to the death of George Floyd could lead to changes at all levels of government. "You cant tamp down critical mass when all 50 states are protesting, places where you dont expect people to even care about this issue," he said. In the weekend edition of The Brief podcast, listen to what the founder of Black Lives Matter Houston says about what he expects to come out of this moment.