AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department is looking into an officer's use of force during a pro-abortion rights rally and march earlier this week.
In a video shared to KVUE by Kate Law, an officer is seen pushing a woman to the ground as other officers worked to arrest a different woman on the ground.
What the video doesn't show, and what KVUE is trying to learn more about, is what happened before the shove. Officers' body camera videos may give us a better idea of that. KVUE is working to get a hold of that footage.
However, on May 6, Austin police released aerial footage of the protest, along with the following statement:
"In recognition of the high level of public interest and to provide timely responses to several media inquiries, the Austin Police Department (APD) can provide updated information regarding a video circulating on social media.
"This video depicts Austin police officers in the downtown area making arrests during a protest. APD officers provided traffic control during the protest and utilized emergency lights, sirens and commands. Two people were arrested and charged with interference with public duties. To further transparency, here is a link to the video that shows more context."
KVUE does know the APD made two arrests during the protest Tuesday and charged those individuals with interfering with public duties. The woman in the foreground of the video was not arrested.
The APD is investigating the incident and the use of force, as it does with any officer's use of force.
On Monday evening, Politico leaked a draft opinion from the Supreme Court suggesting that the nation's highest court could be poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision regarding a woman's rights to abortion.
The day after the opinion was leaked, pro-abortion rights organizations across the state held rallies at federal courthouses to protest the pending decision in another case, Whole Woman's Health v. Jackson.
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