Last week, the Austin City Council sent City Manager Spencer Cronk a set of guidelines to use in his revision of our community’s land development code. When it comes to reshaping Austin neighborhoods, those guidelines go far beyond anything imagined during the CodeNEXT process. They could lead to the demolition and replacement of tens of thousands of our community’s homes and small businesses. They could raise our already-astronomical property taxes. And they could touch nearly every neighborhood in the city. Read more here.

You count. Share your story. Through sharing these stories, we WILL spark change; by 2020, the voices of American voters WILL be heard. #WeVoteWeCount

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Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP, issued this statement regarding U.S. Attorney General William Barr’s release of the redacted version of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report. 

​A life Appreciation and Celebration for Akwasi Evans 

On Wednesday April 17, 2019 at 1:00pm, there will be a Life Celebration event for Akwasi Evans. Akwasi Evans served the African American and Austin’s progressive community for
over 32 years by providing an independent newspaper - Nokoa The Observer.

Nokoa The Observer focused on bringing a news
perspective that often addressed issues like police misconduct, gentrification, education and employment discrimination. He provided a voice for the voiceless and a platform that spoke truth
to power. He could often be seen participating in
direct action among people who suffered the most from discriminatory policies. 

He worked tirelessly to empower those who were poor and ignored by mainstream organizations and institutions. His sacrifices 
were numerous and he was determined to improved the quality of Life for African Americans. His legacy will stand tall among
Austin’s Civil Rights pioneers.

This event will be held at Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church located at 4301 Tannehill Lane, Austin, Texas. The program will begin at 1:00pm
and feature remarks from Austin’s Civic and Community Leaders.

At 3:30pm, a Repass ceremony will be held at
the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex located at 1156 Hargrave Street, Austin, Texas.
Services will be provided by King Tears Mortuary.

On April 23rd, The Linder Report will be hosting an event titled "The History of Black Business Success in the U.S." from 6:00 - 7:30pm at the United Simpson Methodist Church. This event will chronicle the successful history of African American businesses in the United States, and it will examine reconstruction, the Freedmen's Bureau, and communities that were models of economic success all over the South.

Grand Rapids officials acknowledged a history of development inequity in the city’s Third Ward when they created a $750,000 equity fund during the development of the FY2019 budget last spring. Read more here.

In February 2018, the APD SWAT officers were called to the scene of a shooting near Red River and 12th. The officers deployed a stun gun on 31-year-old Quentin Perkins who, according to their reports, was trying to get away. However, a different officer's body-worn-camera footage showed Perkins was on the ground. Read more here.