Antone's Nightclub
APD's Statements Inaccurate
RECEIVED Thu., Aug. 30, 2012
Dear Editor,
Re: “APD Infiltrates Occupy" [Newsdesk blog, Aug. 30]: “According to [APD Assistant Chief Sean] Mannix, Dowell and the other two undercover officers had attended General Assembly meetings where the use of lockboxes as acts of civil disobedience were discussed and approved." This is an inaccurate statement. Use of lockboxes was never “approved;” on the other hand, nonviolent civil disobedience was. No different than the actions taken by the striking janitors in Houston.
To the readers of this article: Just read these two comments side by side and judge for yourself.
"Mannix confirmed testimony Dowell provided in court this week, that the APD actually had three undercover detectives, including Dowell, working inside the movement last year – but the point wasn't to disrupt activities, claims Mannix, rather to ensure that any person in Austin wanting to engage in 'protected free speech' would be free to do so."
"There are no written police reports, [Dowell] said; since there was no criminal investigation ongoing, there was no reason to write an official report for the APD system, he testified."
Stupid is as stupid does.
Pair this with a previous argument from Police Chief Art Acevedo and Assistant City Manager Michael McDonald that the cost of police presence at Occupy Austin was bleeding the APD budget. Now Google Dowell's annual salary. Paid for by our tax dollars. Enough said.
Re: “APD Infiltrates Occupy" [Newsdesk blog, Aug. 30]: “According to [APD Assistant Chief Sean] Mannix, Dowell and the other two undercover officers had attended General Assembly meetings where the use of lockboxes as acts of civil disobedience were discussed and approved." This is an inaccurate statement. Use of lockboxes was never “approved;” on the other hand, nonviolent civil disobedience was. No different than the actions taken by the striking janitors in Houston.
To the readers of this article: Just read these two comments side by side and judge for yourself.
"Mannix confirmed testimony Dowell provided in court this week, that the APD actually had three undercover detectives, including Dowell, working inside the movement last year – but the point wasn't to disrupt activities, claims Mannix, rather to ensure that any person in Austin wanting to engage in 'protected free speech' would be free to do so."
"There are no written police reports, [Dowell] said; since there was no criminal investigation ongoing, there was no reason to write an official report for the APD system, he testified."
Stupid is as stupid does.
Pair this with a previous argument from Police Chief Art Acevedo and Assistant City Manager Michael McDonald that the cost of police presence at Occupy Austin was bleeding the APD budget. Now Google Dowell's annual salary. Paid for by our tax dollars. Enough said.
Dave Cortez