Gabriel C. Pérez/KUT
toggle caption Gabriel C. Pérez/KUT
Capitol View Arts and Austin Justice Coalition, in conjunction with the City of Austin and a team of artists and volunteers, paint the words Black Artists Matter along East 11th Street. Gabriel C. Pérez/KUT
As the 2020 pandemic shutdown entered its third month last May, a nervous and exhausted world witnessed George Floyd s death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. The act was brazen, committed while several other officers idly stood by, and fully captured on video. Like so many of the men of color killed by police who came before him, Floyd was unarmed.
Michael Minasi / KUTX
As the 2020 pandemic shutdown entered its third month last May, a nervous and exhausted world witnessed George Floyd s death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. The act was brazen, committed while several other officers idly stood by, and fully captured on video. Like so many of the men of color killed by police who came before him, Floyd was unarmed.
Massive amounts of people worldwide flooded the streets to protest, COVID-19 be damned. The outrage was not limited to victimized populations of color who have long viewed the police as problematic. People from all walks of life stood together. Some demonstrations turned ugly; in many cities, including Austin, police pushed back with violent aggression, leaving both protestors and bystanders injured. This all started in late May, but protests and their reverberations continue to this day.
Mahone, of the Austin hip-hop duo Riders Against the Storm, talks about how his experience as a Black musician in the Austin music community led him to create the DAWA Fund and the Black Live Music Fund.
As Austin headed into the holidays, health officials moved Travis County into
Stage 5 COVID-19 risk guidelines on Dec. 23 because of increased virus cases and hospitalizations. Bumping to the highest restrictions did not mandate closure of bars and music venues – allowed to operate up to 75% capacity with recertification as restaurants under wiggly state orders – but local officials encouraged closure of indoor dining spaces. Left to interpret for themselves, many venues with restarted concert calendars canceled until further notice.
Stage 5 recommendations [urge] individuals to avoid all gatherings outside of the household and avoid dining and shopping except as essential. Businesses are recommended to only operate through contactless options such as curbside and delivery.
Come and Save It Rally at City Hall on Nov. 19 (Photo by Jana Birchum)
Following rallying by music advocates, city music offices say they re on track to begin rolling out venue relief by the new year. Although applications haven t opened for grants totaling $10 million under the
SAVES Resolution, Music & Entertainment Division Manager
Erica Shamaly said Monday at the
Music Commission meeting that their staff is connecting with third parties to deliver the first round of
Live Music Venue Preservation funds. We should be making an announcement in the next few days, she said. [We] will try to get out emergency aid as fast as we possibly can. We re shooting for before the end of the year.