© 2025 KUT Public Media

A service of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin

webmaster@kutx.org
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

PHOTOS: Demonstrators Clash With Austin Police And State Troopers In Downtown Protest

KUT 90.5 | By KUT Staff
Published May 30, 2020 at 5:57 PM CDT
A protester is arrested by Austin Police near City Hall Sunday afternoon.
Michael Minasi
/
KUT
A protester is arrested by Austin Police near City Hall Sunday afternoon.

Hundreds of people protesting the killings of George Floyd and Michael Ramos converged on Austin Police headquarters throughout the weekend, shutting down Interstate 35 several times and marching across downtown.

KUT photographers Michael Minasi, Gabriel C. Pérez and Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon were there to document the protests. You can see more of their work on our Flickr page.

Austin Police fire tire gas at protesters gathered on Interstate 35 Sunday afternoon.
Credit Michael Minasi / KUT
/
KUT
Austin Police fire tire gas at protesters gathered on Interstate 35 Sunday afternoon.

Organizers canceled a planned rally Sunday at the Texas Capitol out of fear of outside groups interfering, but thousands still showed up.
Credit Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon / KUT
/
KUT
Organizers canceled a planned rally Sunday at the Texas Capitol out of fear of outside groups interfering, but thousands still showed up.
Police officers move in after demonstrators set fire to a mattress in the Seventh Street underpass below Interstate 35 Saturday night.
Credit Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon / KUT
/
KUT
Police officers move in after demonstrators set fire to a mattress in the Seventh Street underpass below Interstate 35 Saturday night.
Austin Police officers take at least one protester into custody on Interstate 35 Saturday afternoon.
Credit Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon / KUT
/
KUT
Austin Police officers take at least one protester into custody on Interstate 35 Saturday afternoon.

Mounted police officers use pepper spray on protesters attempting to get on Interstate 35 Saturday afternoon.
Credit Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon / KUT
/
KUT
Mounted police officers use pepper spray on protesters attempting to get onto the highway.

Protesters split into different groups Saturday, as many ventured onto Interstate 35 and surrounding Austin Police headquarters, others marched on City Hall and the state Capitol.
Credit Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon / KUT
/
KUT
Protesters split into different groups - some venturing onto Interstate 35 and surrounding Austin Police headquarters, others marching to City Hall and the state Capitol.

Protesters help a man pepper-sprayed by the police on the shoulder of Interstate 35.
Credit Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon / KUT
/
KUT
Protesters help a man pepper-sprayed by the police on the shoulder of Interstate 35.

"I can't breathe" signs are carried throughout the protest, referencing some of the last words George Floyd spoke while being pinned by a police officer.
Credit Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon / KUT
/
KUT
"I can't breathe" signs are carried throughout the protest, referencing some of the lost words George Floyd spoke while being pinned by a police officer.

A police officer wearing a face shield watches protesters in downtown Austin.
Credit Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon / KUT
/
KUT
A police officer watches protesters in downtown Austin.

A protester has milk poured into his eyes by a fellow protester after being pepper-sprayed by police Saturday afternoon.
Credit Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon / KUT
/
KUT
A protester has milk poured into his eyes by a fellow protester after being pepper-sprayed by police Saturday afternoon.
Protesters prevent a line of Austin Police vehicles from driving onto Interstate 35.
Credit Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon / KUT
/
KUT
Protesters prevent a line of Austin Police vehicles from driving onto Interstate 35.

Austin Police officers keep protesters off of Interstate 35 and onto the shoulder. The highway was blocked several times Saturday afternoon.
Credit Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon / KUT
/
KUT
Austin Police officers keep protesters off Interstate 35 and onto the shoulder. The highway was blocked several times Saturday afternoon.

A police officer leading a mounted unit prepares to pepper spray protesters on an Interstate 35 access road in downtown Austin.
Credit Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon / KUT
/
KUT
A police officer leading a mounted unit prepares to pepper spray protesters on an access road in downtown Austin.

Hundreds protest outside of Austin Police headquarters Saturday afternoon. The front doors were boarded up before the protest started.
Credit Gabriel C. Pérez / KUT
/
KUT
Hundreds protest outside of Austin Police headquarters Saturday afternoon. The front doors were boarded up before the protest started.

"George Floyd" and "RIP Mike Ramos" graffiti is spray-painted onto the side of Austin Police Department headquarters.
Credit Gabriel C. Pérez / KUT
/
KUT
"George Floyd" and "RIP Mike Ramos" graffiti is spray-painted onto the side of police headquarters.

Austin police officers in riot gear keep protesters away from the front doors of police headquarters.
Credit Gabriel C. Pérez / KUT
/
KUT
Austin police officers in riot gear keep protesters away from the front doors of police headquarters.

Streets around Austin Police headquarters are shut down overnight Friday after a protest moved onto the frontage road.
Credit Gabriel C. Pérez / KUT
/
KUT
Streets around Austin Police headquarters are shut down overnight Friday after a protest moved onto the frontage road.
Tags
Austin George FloydMichael RamosAustin PoliceProtestsBlack Lives Matter
KUT Staff
See stories by KUT Staff
Related Content