Chemical Planters Soulbrain was present at city council meeting that included unanimous approvals for surrounding area constructions that all held the same agriculture, constructor for the community – including Soulbrain plantation facilities – within and around the city of Taylor.
The Korean company has been making rounds throughout the city as they are preparing for the initial groundwork to begin for their new location in Taylor, with many promises from the city that Soul Brain needed to confirm including the stability of contracts, in addition to 50 jobs that had been added onto the employment roll.
“This is a minor change to the agreement that the city has with Soul Brain, their company was a miscommunication about when the 50 jobs would be established, agreement hadn’t matched and we called knowing that people ramp up to the job application,” said Ben White, Austin City Councilman.
In addition, residential staff had the backings to say an absolute inaccurate flaw was happening with the building of a 300-foot cell tower being placed as a replacement located at 118 Cratis Lane that would be “very close to residential” putting many for risk public health, safety and general welfare within the community.
Scott Dunlop, Development Services Director, explained that part of the special use permit is the approximate reimbursement, the way, our cold reads for this area, the distance residential reset the distance is four times the height.”12 hundred feet , the closes house 100 and 13 feet away should the tower bucket, should collapse as one bid piece,’ with no effect.
Much of the concern is that the 10,000 worth of trees that will help in the surroundings of the 300-foot cell tower would be something that residents would have to considering manually and according to representatives that is not the case, “This is a self-supporting tower that has no guide specifics,” said Brian Sullivan, Craft and Communications. The 300-foot tower is set to be all automated.
Boxwood two-site development plan that would be located at 2002 w. Second St. was almost completely knocked down heavily by residents with an asked for fee in lieu of the unfulfilled trees. A development that could keep residents safe from risk of loss due to unsafety seriousness due to old guided, manual improvisations, a plan that included agricultural renovations.
“There was some trees that were removed, some trees that got credit for and some trees they were planting , further plan they had about 33 trees to plant however when we were out to the cite inspection and we were and we were wrapping up the planting that did not match how they were approved,” said Dunlop.
On the night of February 26, 2012, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was walking back from a convenience store to his father’s place in Miami, Fl., wearing a hoodie, carrying with him a bag of skittles and an Arizona tea. Young Martin had no clue that he was being watched by “neighborhood police” Hispanic American George Zimmerman, who had alerted a Florida Police Department that he was on a suspicious-looking Martin’s trail.
That same night, millions of Americans would turn their TV’s, radios, and other devices on to the news Martin, a African American teenager, had been shot and killed by Zimmerman on his way home. A jury would later acquit Zimmerman for the second-degree and manslaughter of Martin, stating Florida’s ‘Stand Your Ground” law, which held the accused testimony that during their altercation, Zimmerman had no choice but to use self-defense. The verdict would spark and trigger a society so complex into formation that Black Lives Matter would be born.
Often compared to the Civil Rights Movement, Black Lives Matter carries with them a weight that brings to life the colloquialism of “The audacity of…,” something that holds ground for a community that has been hit with a problem of police brutality and racially motivated violence. We as a nation witness this call for justice in the form of protests in our homes, schools, workplaces, streets, and parks. Hashtags on all social media platforms for Black Lives Matter, a still untrademarked organization, is used as a symbol of solidarity.
Founded by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi, Black Lives Matter has since expanded into a global movement, recently, being nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for their courageous efforts to change a broken system. Norwegian MP Petter Eide expressed in his nominations papers what the movement has meant for citizens worldwide.
“I find that one of the key challenges we have seen in America, but also in Europe and Asia, is the kind of increasing conflict based on inequality,” Eide said. “Black Lives Matter has become a very important worldwide movement to fight racial injustice.”
Martin’s untimely death was not the last to reach the world. It was a summer of quietness, the usual tourist-packed, and by-the-brand weekend for many of New York City’s residents.
On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner, a stout, tall black male, was approached by New York police officer Daniel Pantaleo under suspicion of illegally selling cigarettes. What transpired was Garner surrounded, grounded on his chest, with multiple officers on top. The last words he would utter, “I Can’t Breathe,” would soon become a hashtag used around the globe as shared video footage of a suffocating Garner darkened the nation.
Once again, the officers would not be charged for Garner’s death. A decision that incited protests from New York to California to Atlanta, shaping the racial tension between a society of people and the police. This time proving more thicker than ever with existential, detailed video footage.
Black Lives Matter and their underlining on the importance of using devices to record started to frame a discussion on the lengths of safety an individual, specifically black, must go through when being stopped and questioned by law enforcement. A conversation that we had not brought to the forefront in our society in years. For many, the movement for better policing had now been placed on an ongoing continuum.
Two months later the death of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown, two days shy of starting his first day of college in Ferguson MI. would be next.
On August 9, 2014, Police Officer Darren Wilson shot and killed Brown. In similarity to Zimmerman’s verdict, the grand jury decided not to indict Wilson, stating the officer used self-defense. As a result, the city of Ferguson witnessed unrest for weeks. Signs with the unofficial slogan “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” would symbolize the current movement, while Black Lives Matter furthered their support, organizing a “Freedom Ride” of more than 500 African American protesters.
Black Lives Matter is more than just a street-protest operation. On more than one occasion they have demanded for more from national and local government, including reparations for African Americans, specifically, a universal income that would bring extreme ‘free’ relief to many homes living in poverty. In addition, an end to the jail system and the reformation of the prison system, a point of call to action that would be made clear following exposure of internees’ deaths.
Sandra Bland, a 28-year-old black Texas woman, was found hanging in a jail cell three days after being arrested during a traffic stop by Waller County State Trooper Brian Encinia.
Soon after, the public would get two videos – the one Bland herself recorded for little over 30 seconds and the police recorded video. Both videos including an exchange of a crying and screaming Bland.
The unusual events that lead to the death of Bland caused a common grief around the nation. Many questioned why and how a young advocate for Black Lives Matter and a Prairie View A&M Alumna, soon to be employed, would suicide in a county prison cell. Multiple calls for an investigation into her death were numerous, along with the hashtags #SayHerName and #SandraBland, which would gain major support like cases before, worldwide.
In a video posted on Black Lives Matter website, Garza, co- founder of the organization, expressed the disturbance that was felt the moment she and friends decided to create the new movement for names like Trayvon Martin and Sandra Bland.
“Black Lives Matter really starts because there is a generation of us desperate for something different, and while the Obama administration for many of us was like this is the opportunity where we can finally have those real conversations, instead white people were like racism over you got your black president then Trayvon Martin’s killed,” Garza said.
The movement continues to prove itself worthy of higher accolades with a reach of over 30 communities globally and goals in politics to end police brutality and injustice, moving at a critical speed with the support of multiple celebrities.
In 2016, football player Colin Kaepernick became a trending topic using his platform to support the Black Lives Matter by taking a solidarity knee during the national anthem in protest of the police shootings of Philando Castile, Alton Sterling, and Freddie Gray. Following the controversy, the organization continued to support Kaepernick’s efforts with motivated hashtags and pushes for him to be picked up by another team.
In that, Black Lives Matter has fueled a following of supporters that continue to challenge them to reach their goals through social media, word-of-mouth, and donations.
The Martin family’s case for justice did not end at the verdict, along with Black Lives Matter, they continue to fight for reform. In 2013, the family had reached a settlement with Florida for an unknown amount. The same can be said for Eric Garner’s, Michael Brown’s, and Sandra Bland’s families. Brown’s family received a 1.5 million insurance settlement with the city of Ferguson; New York City reached a settlement of 5.9 million with Eric Garner’s family, while Sandra Bland’s family received a settlement of 1.9 million in a wrongful death lawsuit against Waller County.
Now in their sixth year, Black Lives Matter has created a staple for themselves. While they have reached high points, they are still in the fight for justice. On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was stopped by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on suspicion of using a counterfeit $20 dollar bill to purchase cigarettes from a convenience store.
In the minutes following his arrest, Floyd had uttered the same words of Garner’s 20 times “I Can’t Breathe.” as Chauvin’s foot shoved into his neck.
The killing of the 46-year-old African American man had caught the attention of thousands of protesters across the nation, many arriving in locations to support Black Lives Matter. Months later following Floyd’s death, Chauvin pleaded guilty to third-degree murder. He is still awaiting his trial.
Black Lives Matter continues to transcend the global spectrum. They are heard more than ever in times of injustice and in their fight for less names on a long list – in their fight for a world where a young, African American teenager wearing a hoodie, carry with him a bag of skittles and an Arizona tea makes it back home.
Derek Chauvin, former Minneapolis Police Officer, was found guilty on all charges of murder and manslaughter in a Minnesota court by a jury for the death of George Floyd.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) issued a statement after the verdict.
“Minnesota mourns with you, and we promise the pursuit of justice for George Floyd does not end today,” Walz said. “True justice for George Floyd’s family only comes from real, systematic change to prevent this from happening again.”
Chauvin chose to not testify during his trial before the final verdict. “I will invoke my Fifth Amendment privilege today,” he said. When asked by the judge if it was his decision to make that choice, he continued, “It is, your honor.”
The jury was given two sides of who George Floyd was: a family guy who was working to build a better life and a man who struggled sometimes with wrong decisions while with friends.
On May 25, 2020, Floyd walked into Cups Food convenience store to buy a pack of cigarettes, in which he purchased with a counterfeit $20 dollar bill. Christopher Martin, a 19-year-old store clerk, testified that once he noticed the fraudulent bill he tried multiple times to get Floyd and his friends to return to the store. Martin’s manager then called 911 to report a ‘stubborn’ Floyd.
In the minutes following, the altercation had escalated with police as Floyd was pinned down to the ground pleading for his life saying “I am not a bad guy.” Video footage proved that Chauvin had Floyd positioned with his knee on his neck for more than eight minutes without oxygen.
The killing of the 46-year-old African American man caught the attention of thousands of protesters across the nation, igniting a outcry for justice.
In the months following Floyd’s death, The former police officer pleaded guilty to third-degree murder.
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, along with, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with George Floyd’s family following the verdict to let them know that this is not the end.
Biden and Harris also addressed the nation on the steps forward.
“Here’s the truth about racial injustice,” Harris said. “It is not just a Black America problem or a people of color problem; it is a problem for every American…It is holding our nation back from realizing our full potential.”
President Biden followed with words of solidarity. In addition, he spoke on their combination rally for lawmakers to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
“No one should be above the law and today’s verdict sends that message,” Biden said. “But it’s not enough. We can’t stop here.”
The verdict was delivered after 10 hours of deliberations over two days. Chauvin is facing 12 years to life in prison.
Austin Urban Post 