This is the sort of crap "journalism" I have to deal with living in Texas: 150 lawmakers + 150 psalms = match made in heaven. You'd think the only major newspaper in a large city would at least pretend to be unbiased, but it appears they have no compunction about pushing their Christian, right-wing agenda. I laugh when people call Austin liberal.

I was there: Violence mars Mardi Gras parties in Austin. The police were all in riot gear (helmets, body armor, clubs). Idiots in the crowd were throwing rocks and empty beer bottles at them from time to time. I was at 6th and some cross street (Neches or Red River, I think) near the Black Cat Lounge and those places. We went about a hundred feet off 6th to watch. They had blocked off 6th to the east by the time we'd gotten there because of (apparently) some fighting that had taken place earlier. There was a huge crowd facing them (eastward) on 6th, and a fair number off to the side where we were. Of course, we were far back from the front; we'd found some steps leading up to a side door in one of the buildings . The cops were pepper spraying people who got too close and acting belligerent (insulting the cops, flipping them off, etc.). They had these huge cans of pepper spray that would fire a 10 foot cloud. Every now and then a pocket of people would get spooked or sprayed and start running away from the cops. This went on for probably 20 minutes and then the reinforcements arrived (in the form of about 8 mounted police). After a couple minutes of waiting around, they went marching down 6th with about 15 or so walking troopers. There were still about 8 cops waiting in the intersection. After about 10 minutes they started heading down our way too. I figured (stupidly) since I was sticking by the side and not doing anything, I'd be left alone, but as the line of cops got close, it was made abundantly clear to me that I should get my ass moving. Luckily I'd parked on that side so we didn't have far to go. Of course, if I'd parked at the Post Office like I usually do, I never would have seen this. An interesting night, to say the least.

¶ 98 Posted at 10.50 PM ⇒ No Comments ( stupid people | me )