10:23 p.m.

9:48 p.m.

The group at APD headquarters is said to be protesting civilly. KXAN’s Alex Caprariello reports the crowd is playing Christian rap music.

9:23 p.m.

Update 8:40 p.m.

The crowd is marching from Austin Police Department to the Texas Capitol.

Update 8:30 p.m.

Update 8 p.m.

Update 7:25 p.m.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Protesters at the Texas Capitol kneeled down in a moment of silence on both sides of Congress Avenue.

The protesters raised their firsts during the moment of silence, according to KXAN’s Yoojin Cho.

Update 6:30 p.m.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Demonstrations have picked up at Austin Police Department headquarters in downtown Austin.

KXAN’s Alex Caprariello reports the crowd is chanting “No peace til no police” and “Who killed Michael? APD.”

The group is referring to Michael Ramos, who died during a shooting incident with Austin police in southeast Austin in April.

Update

AUSTIN (KXAN) — There appears to be a dynamics shift in demonstrations near APD headquarters, according to KXAN’s Alex Caprariello.

A masked person is accusing protesters of defending the police, but was drowned out by chants of “We want peace” and Black lives matter.”

Caprariello notes that many of the original protesters at APD headquarters have left, walking down Eighth Street with a chant of “Black lives matter.” Another group remains at APD headquarters with derogatory chants toward police.

Update 6 p.m.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns football team marched to the Texas Capitol on Thursday afternoon in honor of George Floyd. Austin police officers walked with the team in a planned demonstration between the team and law enforcement.

Around 50 players and coaches locked arms as they walked from Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium to the Capitol.

Players and officers kneeled at the Capitol gate for nine minutes in remembrance of Floyd.

Original Story

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Protests and demonstrations against police brutality are happening around Austin Thursday near the Texas State Capitol and APD Headquarters.

The Austin Police Retired Officers Association, along with the Austin Police Association, held a joint press conference to “speak out against the shortcomings of the criminal justice system and those of this council” on Thursday morning

A press release by the APROA had harsh words toward Austin Mayor Steve Adler and the city council, saying a “lack of leadership” from Adler and the council allowed for “violence and destruction.”

“While officers dodged rocks, Molotov cocktails, eggs and bricks to protect the right of individuals to peacefully protests, Mayor Adler and his colleagues failed to speak publicly about the importance of abiding by laws that protect the rights, safety and property of others,” the press release read, in part.

At 2:30 p.m. Thursday, a group of young people will bring their parents to the steps of APD headquarters to peacefully protest police brutality. Organizers say they hope to “talk openly with Austin police officers to explain, as parents, how we can’t see one more parent grieve the loss of their child at the hands of police.”

At 6 p.m., the Mike Ramos Brigade will hold a protest outside APD headquarters to demand the names of the officers that shot and injured protesters.

The APA sent an email to Mayor Adler, City Council members, city public safety commissioners and the director of the Office of Police Oversight to attend the Mike Ramos Brigade protest. They asked for RSVPs so they could get enough protective gear for people to wear.

“We hope your physical presence will promote an environment for protesters to express their First Amendment right to peaceably assemble and petition the government for a redress of their grievances,” the email said.