By Tommy Jonson
Social Democratic District Attorney for Austin, TX, Jose Garza rose to popularity on the back of the May Uprisings against the Police in 2020. Garza, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), promised to prosecute the police engaged in anti-protest violence as well as those who were implicated in the types of shooting that sparked the protest movement. Garza is now back-peddling on his campaign promises by dropping more charges against the 19 police officers indicted due to their abuse of demonstrators.
Among the APD officers who return to duty scott-free are Nicholas Gebhart, whose charges were dropped in February, and Rolan Rast, whose charges were dropped this month. Gebhart is the APD detective who shot a 16-year-old boy in the head with a pellet, resulting in a multi-million dollar settlement with the teens’ family. Rast, an APD officer charged with deadly conduct for his activity during the protests, is the most recent police to be given a pass by Garza. In response to the indictment, Rast and other police sued the City of Austin in Civil Court last year claiming they were not trained in the use of less lethal rounds, further claiming the rounds they used were defective.
Garza, who has made no worthwhile comments on dropping charges against the police, has only demonstrated to working and oppressed people the nature of this system. No matter what a politician in the capitalist state promises, they will let the oppressive state oppress and use excessive force. They will only claim otherwise to get into office as part of the very same repressive state. Though he might not be able to lift a baton or pull the trigger himself, Garza takes his rightful place in the beating of demonstrators. Those who do the dirty work are returned to their posts through his refusal to follow through in support of the very uprisings that landed him in office.
