UPDATED on 5/24/2012
Antonio Buehler is one of the organizers of the “Peaceful Streets Project” in Austin, Texas.
“The Peaceful Streets Project is a volunteer, grassroots undertaking uniting Austinites behind the common goal of ending the institutional violence taking place on Austin streets. Through organizing, training, and direct action tactics, the Peaceful Streets Project seeks to support marginalized communities in understanding, exercising, and standing up for their rights.
In order to accomplish these goals, the Peaceful Streets Project is undertaking the following actions:
Police Accountability Summit on July 7th featuring a free, full day of workshops and speakers
Fundraising to purchase video cameras to give to trained activists in traditionally marginalized communities so they may hold aggressors accountable
At least two “Know Your Rights” trainings leading up to the Saturday, July 7th, 2012 Summit
Ongoing “Police Complaint Department” events in public spaces to enable Austinites to go on record with their stories of police abuse. Click here for samples of testimonies collected so far.
Continuously building alliances with other community initiatives to support one another’s work
Through these actions, the Peaceful Streets Project aims to create a more just and peaceful Austin free of institutionalized violence. The Project is currently looking for volunteers as well as donors and sponsors to help us make this ambitious effort possible.”
If you are on Facebook, you can join their Facebook page here.
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Antonio Buehler: Veteran, West Point Graduate, Ranger, School Teacher, a good Samaritan and a victim of police brutality.
On Sunday, January 1, 2012, Antonio was taking pictures of police officers arresting and abusing a woman. Officers didn’t like it so they arrested him and fabricated charges.
The U.S. Constitution give us the right to videotape and take pictures of police officers while they are working. We need more people like him to step in and protect our rights.
West Point Grad arrested for taking pictures of woman being arrested and abused by Austin police.
JOIN the group FREE Antonio Buehler on facebook in support of Antonio.
Without adequate defense, trumped up Third Degree Felony charges could result in a 2-10 year sentence. DONATE to SUPPORT THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND.
Solidarity against police brutality.
Occupy Austin Court. Jan 19. 8am.
Blackwell-Thurman. Criminal Justice Center. 509 West 11th St. 78701
DEMANDS:
* ALL charges against the victims dropped.
* Police officers Patrick Oborski and Robert Snider immediately fired and criminal charges filed against them.
Next court date
Thursday, February 23rd, 2012. 9am
331st District Court
This is one of the reports from today 2/23/12. More on the Facebook group FREE Antonio Buehler which its in support of Antonio.
Buehler’s next court date is set for March 26 for pre-indictment.
More witnesses come forward. Antonio Buehler DID NOT Spit On Officer Patrick Oborski Say, Carlos Amador and Elizabeth Mahoney Eye Witnesses (Carlos videotaped the arrest of Antonio.)
HELP VICTIMS OF POLICE BRUTALITY. Call the following people and DEMAND that they fire criminal cops Oborski & Snider.
Mayor Leffingwell: 512-974-2250
Police Chief Acevedo: 512-974-5000 Where’s The Dash Cam video Chief?
City Council Members:
Chris Riley: 512-974-2260
Mike Martinez: 512-974-2264
Kathie Tovo: 512-974-2255
Laura Morrison: 512-974-2258
Bill Spelman: 512-974-2256
Statement from Antonio Buehler:
On January 1st, 2012 sometime between 1:00 am and 1:30 am, I was driving my friend home from a New Years Eve party. I was the designated driver and was sober. We pulled into the 7-11 on Lamar & West 10th in Austin TX to get gas, and we saw ourselves near a car that was pulled over with two police cruisers behind it. A black woman was being given a field sobriety test in the cold. She seemed to be getting bossed around by the cops, and we both took notice. They had her doing the heel to toe test in high heels. In the passenger seat was a young Hispanic lady who appeared to be on her phone. She was doing nothing aggressive.
As we finished pumping gas, a cop had gone over to the passenger side door and opened it. Soon after we heard a terrible scream and watched in horror as the very built cop started yanking this poor girl from the car. The other cop came up and joined in on the abuse.
My friend and I stayed within two arms lengths of the truck, and tried to take pictures and yelled at the cops to stop assaulting the girl.
After that, one cop came up to me yelling at me and asking why I was taking pictures. I said it was my right in public, and he pushed me into the truck and started yelling in my face. I asked him why he pushed me, I put up my arms to show I wasn’t a threat, told him to get out of my face, and that I had done nothing illegal. He then grabbed my arm, and pinned me against the truck, at which time he claimed I “spit” on him.
They arrested me, claimed it was for “interfering with an investigation”. By the time I got to their truck, it was a DUI and they made me blow. It didn’t register, and by the time I got to jail it was then a “felony harassment” and a “resisting arrest” charge.
The woman was arrested for “public intoxication”. The cops said that she was interfering with their DUI investigation because she yelled to her friend not to submit to any tests. Interestingly, neither of us was charged with interfering in an investigation.
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Nearly two weeks after cell phone video captures an arrest downtown, Austin Police slap two additional charges on a woman who claims police assaulted her on New Year’s Eve. Attorney Mindy Montford, who is representing “Norma,” is outraged by the new charges, calling them highly suspect.
“This is unusual,” said Montford, “and I have been doing this for well over ten years, and this is shocking to me.” READ MORE.
The U.S. Constitution give us the right to videotape and take pictures of police officers while they are working. Austinites Support Antonio Buehler At Austin Public Safety Meeting.
American Civil Liberties Union – You Have Every Right to Photograph That Cop.
“Taking photographs and video of things that are plainly visible in public spaces is a constitutional right — and that includes the outside of federal buildings, as well as transportation facilities, and police and other government officials carrying out their duties.”
United States Court of Appeals. For the First Circuit Court in the SIMON GLIK case:
“In summary, though not unqualified, a citizen’s right to film government officials, including law enforcement officers, in the discharge of their duties in a public space is a basic, vital, and well-established liberty safeguarded by the First Amendment.” and “In our society, police officers are expected to endure significant burdens caused by citizens’ exercise of their First Amendment rights. See City of Houston v. Hill, 482 U.S. 451, 461 (1987) (“[T]he First Amendment protects a significant amount of verbal criticism and challenge directed at police officers.”). Indeed, “[t]he freedom of individuals verbally to oppose or challenge police action without thereby risking arrest is one of the principal characteristics by which we distinguish a free nation from a police state.”