Southlake mayor says she can’t guarantee safety at planned student protest
Students are planning to hold a protest against racism and police brutality Saturday at 2 p.m. in response to the death of George Floyd, but city officials are concerned about safety.
Mayor Laura Hill wrote in a Facebook post that the students were offered an alternative location in a city park, but they wanted to hold the event in the Town Square, which is across from Southlake Town Hall.
Hill said that holding this event in a well-known open shopping center provides no control as to who attends.
“The flyer once posted has been shared by anyone who chose to, across Texas and beyond. Our police force can not stop a violent person or people before they start violence. No police department in our country can. Yes we will take every precaution within our ability but our families want guarantees that their children will be safe, there are none. Use your voice to demand that this protest remains peaceful,” Hill said.
Floyd died on Memorial Day after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who now faces second degree murder charges, knelt on Floyd’s neck. Floyd told the officer he couldn’t breathe as Chauvin continued to press his knee on Floyd’s neck.
The three officers who were with Chauvin were charged with aiding and abetting the crime.
Hill said in the statement that she understands that students want to hold a peaceful event and considers it important they are heard.
“We did contact the organizer yesterday to offer a more controlled park location since there may be many young students in attendance. The organizers have made the decision to stay in Town Square,” Hill said.
Estela Romero, a Carroll High School student who formed the Progressive Activists Club, said she wanted to organize the protest to highlight social justice and ongoing racism.
“With everything going on, Southlake wasn’t holding a protest. No one was talking about the situation,” she said, referring to the death of Floyd.
When asked about holding the protest in the Town Square instead of a park, Romero said the city did not offer another option and added that she and other organizers are working with police to ensure people’s safety.
“We don’t want to protest to trees and grass; we want our voices to be heard by as many people as possible,” she said.
Romero said she invited the mayor to speak, but she has not received a response.
“Southlake doesn’t have the best reputation with race-related issues. We want to be the generation of change,” Romero said.
The mayor said the city allows all groups to gather peacefully in the city’s public parks, “it is their right and I support the students desire to be heard. But as Mayor and a Mother I can not in good conscience tell you to send your child if you believe the city can guarantee their safety.”
Hill declined to comment when contacted by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, but responses to her Facebook post showed a wide range of opinions, from supporting her position to criticism for putting buildings and the economy above human life.
The comments referred to an Open Texas rally that was held last weekend in Southlake, and Hill was criticized for not posting similar concerns on Facebook.
Robin Cornish, who lived in Southlake until she recently moved to the Alliance Corridor, said she will attend the protest to support the students.
Cornish, whose husband Frank played for the Dallas Cowboys, experienced several incidents in Southlake including the vandalism of a plaque commemorating her husband with racial slurs carved into it. The city replaced the sign, but Cornish said she never forgot what happened.
“I know if my husband was alive, he would be standing with those kids, peacefully. I am going to attend the protest and stand peacefully. I’m just outdone at what’s happened and with what’s happening in our country,” she said.
Southlake grappled with racial tension last year after videos surfaced on social media showing students repeating the n-word.
The videos prompted the city and the Carroll school district to form task forces to discuss educating the community.
The city of Southlake emailed a statement to the Star-Telegram which said “Southlake is known as a safe community. While there have been peaceful demonstrations in other places recently, there have also been instances where the protests and demonstrations have quickly turned to violence.”
“Because this a student-led protest and their safety is one of our primary concerns, we want them and everyone else to understand that Southlake has a plan to protect people and property. But there are no 100% guarantees, and it would be foolish to say otherwise.”
Other protests planned
Students in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford school district are also holding a protest 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Generations Park, formerly the Bedford Boys Ranch park.
Mayor Michael Boyter said he will be at the event to offer his support to the students and for anyone who wants to talk.
This story was originally published June 4, 2020 at 1:30 PM.