We are members of the Austin United Coalition. We are concerned Austin citizens, organizations, businesses, parents, students, and workers who want to move forward from this city’s legacy of racism.

In 2005 the city of Austin joined with concerned citizens to create the African American Quality of Life Initiative. This initiative came about as a result of city government’s response to a number of studies that showed glaring systematic inequities affecting the African American community in Austin.

These studies looked at a number of quality of life indicators, such as: number of businesses, police, salaries, education levels and most importantly cultural sustainability. Among the results of the studies, which revealed lower education, employment and salary levels, was a general sentiment that blacks are underrepresented as a part of Austin’s overall culture.

This was also noted by anecdotal information provided by area corporations. Some stated that it is difficult to recruit African American employees because of the lack of public representation of black culture. In the lucrative convention and tourism industry, African American regional and national trade associations do not consider hosting their professional meetings or conventions in Austin because of the perception that African Americans are not welcome in Austin.

The Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays are an annual track and field competition held at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas. The University of Texas serves as host for the event and the 82nd running of the relays was April 2-5, 2009. According to the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau in 2007, the Relays generated $8 million for local business. Much of this is traced to the fact that the event has become a social destination for young African-Americans. A number of groups organize networking and development events for African-Americans to take place in downtown Austin during the Relays.

What would be a wonderful opportunity for Austin to put out the welcome wagon has turned into a frenzy of fear. This year, the media both describes and instigates a city gripped by fear because of the “onslaught” of a large number of African Americans. It has long been reported that certain clubs on 6th street refuse to rent their facilities to African Americans for private parties, which are the mainstay of the evening activities. This year several bars closed for business during the relays because they believe their regular customers are too frightened to come to the 6th street area. In addition, the management company for Highland Mall citing security reasons closed the mall at 2:00PM on Saturday. To add fuel to the fire, several radio stations warned their listeners not to go to 6th street because of “some impending danger.”

We as citizens of Austin will no longer allow these racist policies to dictate the culture of our city. The public representation of African Americans as uncontrollable violent animals will not go unanswered, unchallenged and not debated in a public arena. It is in public discourse that truths will be discovered and justice defined.

We all want an Austin that is welcoming to everyone. We want to feel safe and secure and free to be able to utilize all that Austin has to offer. In order for this to be the culture of Austin we must stand firm against the onslaught of misplaced fear. The Austin United Coalition calls on you and your organization to take a public stand against those who would promulgate fears based on racism.

Join with us to call for a public discourse with Highland Mall management, owners of Emo’s, and the Flamingo Cantina to answer the question: How do we leave racism behind?

We call on you to contact the stores at Highland Mall to let them know you will not support their decision to disrespect an entire group of people. Contact the owners of Emos and other clubs on 6th street to let them know that their ideas and opinions are out of step with Austin.

Join us this Saturday, April 11 for a demonstration at Highland Mall. The demonstrations will begin at 9:00am, on the sidewalk in front of the mall and end at 12:00pm. The demonstration will be the first step in a concerted and long-term strategy to support retail establishments that embrace this community's goal of mutual respect and appreciation.

Sincerely,
Lisa Byrd, Ixchel Rosal, ProArts Collective, Donna Carter Design, Sharon Bridgforth, Dana Cloud, Vortex Repertory Company, Jackie Cuevas, Evelyn Street Press, LGBTQ/Sexualities Research Cluster (UT), International Socialist Organization, Campaign to End the Death Penalty, ALLGO (a statewide queer people of color organization), Shane Whalley (LMSW), k. terumi shorb,