Protest in Houston against police killings
Houston, TX – Over 30 people gathered in front of the headquarters of the Houston Police department, July 10, to protest the murder of Alva Braziel, an African-American man who was shot dead this week by the police. Braziel was cooperating with the police by putting his hands up, but they still shot him. The protest was also called to demand justice for Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, and all victims of police brutality.
In the scorching heat, the activists marched in a circular picket chanting “hey, hey, ho, ho, killer cops have got to go,” and had signs that read “Stop killing Black people.” After protesting in front of the police station for an hour, the activists marched through downtown Houston chanting “Black lives matter!” and received much support from people waiting at bus and rail stops, passersby and others in downtown.
Later in the day, a remembrance of Sandra Bland was held in Prairie View, Texas, 50 miles north of Houston. Today, July 10, marks the one-year anniversary that Sandra Bland was arrested and murdered in Waller County jail by her jailers.
One of the speakers at the Sandra Bland remembrance said, “Protesting is good, but it only will give us a piece of the pie. We want to change society so that we can have the whole kitchen and determine the recipe on how to run our own lives. This is called independence, and we are here today to fight for the independence of Black people.”