Protesters Hold 'Justice for Jackson' Rally in Downtown Austin

Protesters took to the streets to rally against a federal judge’s decision to grant former Austin Police Detective Charles Kleinert immunity in the killing of Larry Jackson Jr.

The “People’s Task Force,” an Austin-based organization that focuses on reforming police policies, hosted the rally near the U.S. District Court on Sunday evening. The group is demanding that the district attorney appeal the ruling and continue to pursue a trial for Kleinert. Jackson’s family also attended the rally.

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“We want to thank everyone who came out tonight (and those who had us in their positive thoughts) in support of ‪#‎JusticeforLarryJackson‬,” the family said in a statement on the organization’s Facebook page. “It has been a long hard road these last two years. But with the support of the community, we have been able to fight this battle. This is not over though. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”

Kleinert, who had been investigating an unrelated bank robbery for his federal task force, began to chase Jackson one evening after Jackson tried to enter a closed bank in July 2013. An altercation ensued, and Kleinert shot Jackson in the neck. On Oct. 29, Texas Judge Lee Yeakel said that the Texas courts had no jurisdiction over Kleinert because he was investigating an unrelated bank robbery for his federal task force, and believed Kleinert’s actions “were no more than was necessary and proper.”

“This is a legal technicality that will allow a killer to walk free,” the Jackson family attorney Adam Loewy told The Guardian. “It is one of the most horrendous moments in the history of civil rights in this country.”

The City of Austin has settled with Larry Jackson Jr’s three children in the amount of more than three million-dollars per child. According to the Austin American-Statesman, Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg said she will appeal the dropped charges, potentially all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.