Austin Residents Wary In Mass Shootings' Wake

AUSTIN, TX — In the wake of dual mass shootings in Texas and Ohio less than one week ago, residents planning mass gatherings in Austin this weekend are wary of the potential for lurking danger.

In Austin, Pride events are scheduled to take place this weekend at the same time when thousands will visit stores during a tax-free sales weekend designed to accommodate back-to-school shoppers. In light of recent violence, one local group has taken proactive measures to mitigate tragedy should it occur.

Austin police are at the ready to safeguard the crowds, issuing safety tips on their Twitter account. As the department does every year, patrols will be bolstered at the nexus of events to offer protection.

Police urge those attending Pride events to remain vigilant while assessing their surroundings. To be sure, participants should have fun this weekend. But it's important not only to devise an advance plan of exit, but to hydrate amid what seems an interminable streak of triple-digit heat in a particularly hot August in Central Texas and elsewhere in the state.

Some are taking no chances. Officials of Out Youth, a nonprofit serving Central Texas LGBTQ youth, said Thursday via a Facebook post they would not admit minors to the planned Austin Pride Festival or Parade — the two biggest annual events emblematic of the gay movement. The move not to include those under 18 is in keeping with the group's duty related to "...the safety and protection of our youth," officials explained.

"To uphold our duty and to make it unequivocally clear that it is not enough to say of gun violence, racism, xenophobia, and transphobia 'it will get better,' but that it MUST get better now, Out Youth will not have any youth ages 17 or younger participating with us in this year’s Austin Pride Festival or Parade," officials said.

In young people's stead, Out Youth board members, staff and adult volunteers will take part in the festival and march in the parade "...to represent our commitment to LGBTQIA+ youth and highlight the critical work ahead to ensure safety for everyone," officials of the nonprofit wrote.

Officials made a point to say the move is not reflective of a lack of faith on officials' capacity to safeguard their masses. "This is not to say that we lack faith in Austin Pride or the Austin Police Department," Out Youth officials wrote. "They have provided us with ample reassurance that the parade and festival will be safe and secure," officials assured. "But it is neither responsible nor ethical for us to put our youth in harm’s way in dangerous times such as these."

Instead, LGBTQIA+ youth between the ages of 12 to 18 are invited to join in on a Pride Parade Watch Party from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday night, officials said. Those interested in attending should email adrian.osella@outyouth.org.

Coincidentally, the Austin Police Department launched a portal designed to report hate crimes on the same day of the Out Youth announcement. Dubbed "Safe Place," the site was inspired by a similar effort by the Seattle Police Department to address low reporting of anti-LGBTQ+ crimes. "The goal is to increase public trust in law enforcement and feelings of safety in the community," police explained on the municipal website. "The program expanded in 2018 to include anyone who has been a victim of a bias crime."

Austin Police Chief Brian Manley spearheaded launch of "Safe Place" portal. Photo via Austin Police Department.

As part of the initiative, businesses can secure decals to be affixed on storefront windows indicating their status not only as safe haven but to convey the tactics of inclusion. The decals are available in both English and Spanish.

Click here to learn more about the Safe Place initiative and in the highlighted text for instructions on securing Safe Place decals.

But sadly, no decal is impervious to bullets. Moreover, police — as robust a presence their ranks display during special events and on any given weekend in downtown Austin — can't be everywhere. Inherent vulnerabilities to large gatherings was vividly seen on Saturday in El Paso, Texas, when a gunman fueled by anti-immigration rage and propelled by white nationalist ideology mowed down 22 people and injured more than two dozen more in a bid to help thin the migrant masses he perceived as taking over the country. Death visited Dayton, Ohio, the following day in another mass shooting that left nine dead.

And for members of the LGBTQ+ community, memories of the massacre in Orlando, Florida, that claimed 29 lives is still an open wound for members of the gay community. In June 2016, a security guard opened fire on patrons of a gay nightclub called Pulse before being killed by police after a three-hour standoff. The mass killing galvanized the LGBTQ+ community to action in protecting each others' backs while demanding for enhanced police protection in the future.

But often, anxiety is heightened by unconfirmed reports or outright rumor against a backdrop of news of violence. A member of the group Pflugerville Neighbors shared a screen shot of a text message from a friend alerting to a supposed threat made to stores there. "Stay away from Walmart and Target in the Pflugerville area," the text message read. "People threatened to shoot it up."

The report was debunked by police, who felt compelled to deploy a graphic shared for just such alarmist missives based on unsubstantiated claims. "A social media message is not a police report," officials reminded residents. "If you are reporting or have information about a crime, please call 512-990-6700 or 911 in an emergency."

It's not the first time some residents on the Facebook group page had seen such warnings that are invariably hoaxes: "I've had a lot of FB friends sharing statuses like this today, but haven't found a relevant article," wrote one resident.

For their part, retailers in Texas are responding to mounting concern just days after the El Paso shooting and ahead of a state tax-free holiday designed to accommodate back-to-school shoppers. In the shootings' aftermath, Walmart officials said they may deploy additional “asset protection teams” on a store-by-store basis in the aftermath of the weekend shooting, according to reports. In a lengthy Instagram post, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon vowed "thoughtful and deliberate" measures to prevent further violence.

“We’re a learning organization, and we’ll work to understand the many important issues arising from El Paso and Southaven as well as those raised in the broader national discussion around gun violence," McMillon wrote. "We’ll be thoughtful and deliberate in our responses, and will act in a way that reflects our best values and ideals, focused on the needs of our customers, associates and communities.”

Target released a statement to the Houston Chronicle, saying the company has store safety procedures in place, including employee training and partnerships with local law enforcement. “We consistently review our programs and security measures to help us be as prepared as possible in the event of a security situation,” a spokeswoman told the newspaper via an email.

State Farm offers tips on staying safe in large crowds. "These ideas can help you and the family become more likely to find safety in numbers," officials wrote on their website in introducing the advice:

• Make sure you know where the exits are.
• Consider leaving if the crowd seems to be getting out of control.
• Don't wear loose clothing or accessories that could become tangled or pulled.
• Wear closed-toe shoes and keep the laces tied to prevent tripping.
• Avoid standing on or near structures that could collapse.
• Walk around crowds rather than pushing through them.
• Leave early or late to avoid the rush when the event is over.
• If you're caught in a moving crowd, walk sideways or diagonally across it to work your way out.

As everyone is painfully aware, concern over mass shootings pre-date last weekend's back-to-back acts of violence. In 2015, a Navy SEAL shared 10 tips on surviving a mass shooting in the Business Insider. Read those by clicking here.

And yet, for all the preparation and assurance and safety tips, recent violence elsewhere has had a chilling effect locally. "I just do delivery now," one resident wrote on the Pflugerville Neighbors page. "I just did the same for school supplies," replied another, before adding: "What a sad time we live in."