Film Detailing Austin Teacher's Violent Arrest To Be Screened

AUSTIN, TX — A special screening of the documentary "Traffic Stop" about the harrowing arrest of Austin schoolteacher Breaion King in what began as a simple traffic stop is scheduled on Tuesday.

The screening of the 2017 documentary that was nominated for an Academy Award is a joint effort among the Office of Representative Garnett Coleman and community partners Austin Justice Coalition (AJC), Community Advocacy and Healing Project, Hobby School of Public Affairs - University of Houston, Institute for Urban Policy Research and Analysis and Texas Criminal Justice Coalition. The film is scheduled to be screened in an auditorium at the state Capitol, with a panel discussion featuring King afterwards.

"Traffic Stop" tells the story of the 26-year-old African-American schoolteacher's arrest that escalated quickly from mundane traffic stop to physical violence when the officer pulling her over threw her on the ground before handcuffing her and placing her under police custody. The entire incident was captured on police dashcam video, sparking community outrage that quickly spread nationwide when the footage was widely released.

The dashcam footage shows the officer grabbing King in frustration when she didn't put her legs back into her vehicle fast enough as he had directed. Immediately upon grabbing the teacher to arrest her, the officer launches into a standard directive of "stop resisting" in a loud voice as the teacher endures the violent arrest mere minutes after being pulled over in a routine stop over a traffic infraction.

An ensuing conversation inside the patrol car between King and an officer yielded revealing police perspectives about race and law enforcement. The city ultimately reached a $425,000 settlement with King to avert litigation, and the officer involved was eventually fired from the police force.

"The dashcam footage is juxtaposed with scenes from Breaion’s everyday life as a self-made schoolteacher and dancer, offering a fuller portrait of the woman who now struggles to make sense of her clash with law enforcement," organizers of the planned screening wrote in a press advisory.

Free and open to the public, the event is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m., with the film starting at 6 p.m. A panel discussion will follow with King, director David Heilbroner, Kate Davis, Erica Grigg, and Michele Deitch (moderator).

Related stories:

Film Detailing Violent Arrest Of Austin Teacher Gets Oscar Nod

Austin Approves $425K Settlement For Teacher's Violent Arrest

Austin Officer Who Violently Arrested Teacher Is Fired

Austin Police Chief Apologizes To Schoolteacher Roughed Up By One Of His Cops

WHAT: Documentary and Panel Discussion

WHO: Rep. Garnett Coleman, Austin Justice Coalition, Community Advocacy and Healing Project, Hobby School of Public Affairs, Institute for Urban Policy Research and Analysis, Texas Criminal Justice Coalition

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019, at 5:30 pm

WHERE: Texas State Capitol, 1000 Congress Ave. Austin, Texas 78701
Capitol Extension Auditorium - E1.004

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