Black student seriously injured in protests - police shoot helper

A young black man in the Texas city of Austin is seriously injured by the police in protests against police violence in the USA. Helpers are also shot at. 

• Protests against racist police violence after George Floyd's death have now lasted over a week in the United States
• The police repeatedly use violence during the demonstrations
• When demonstrators in Austin tried to help a seriously injured student, they were also shot at

Austin - in all 50 states of the US protests against last racism and police violence after the violent death of George Floyd  to continue. In many cases, the police are brutal with the demonstrators. This was the case in the Texas city of Austin, where a black student named Justin Howell suffered a broken skull and brain damage from police bullets. 

The bullets with which Howell was hit are referred to by the police as "less-lethal ammunition" and refer to, for example, rubber bullets or "bean bags", bags that usually contain nylon shot. Bullets of this type are actually referred to as "non-lethal weapons", but since their use has already had fatal consequences, they are now called "less lethal". 

Protests against police violence in the USA: In Austin, the police shoot at helpers 

Austin Police Chief Brian Manley confirmed at a press conference on Tuesday that the 20-year-old was seriously injured on Sunday by a “less fatal” bullet. A video of the local protests circulating on Twitter shows that several people were trying to get motionless Justin Howell to safety. When they approached the police building, they were shot at several times.

@Austin_Police Shooting medics trying to help a man as he is possibly dying?! ?? HELP FIND JOHN JOE #austinTexas #NOjustice #NoPeace #atx #atxriots #ATXprotest @ fox7austin @ fox7austin @cbsaustin @SpecNewsATX pic.twitter.com/XL0FE6syZO

Manley confirmed that the "less lethal" ammunition was also shot at the helpers in Austin and that a paramedic was hit on the hands. Ultimately, according to Manley, the student was taken to the building and then to a hospital. In addition, a young teenager was hit by the gunshots and is now also in the hospital. Both shots would now be examined. "We pray for this young man and his family and hope that his condition will improve quickly," said the chief of police.

Austin police seriously injure black students and shoot at helpers

Manley did not identify the seriously injured student, but Joshua Howell, the injured's brother, confirmed that it was Justin Howell. In an article in the local student newspaper, Joshua Howell wrote that the family was not interested in the police prayers . Prayers are not an excuse to give up responsibility.

Paramedic Maredith Michael, who tried to help Justin Howell on site, also shared her experiences. On Facebook, she wrote that she was unsuccessful in asking the police for help. When other demonstrators tried to get Howell to safety, she cleared the way, making a gesture that should identify her as a medic. In addition, she was clearly recognizable as such in a red shirt with a white cross and helmet. When she was hit on the hands by the police , she fell and had to be carried away and taken to the hospital.

Austin: Police shoot black students and paramedics during protests

The protests in Austin continue and are not only about George Floyd , who was killed by the police , but also about Michael Ramos . Ramos was an unarmed black man who was  shot dead by an Austin police officer in late April .

By Valérie Eiseler

Racism and police violence have not only been part of everyday life in the United States since the murder of George Floyd. Black parents fear for their children every day. The guest post.