6 June 19 - 25, 2025 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents seen hitting the window of a fully marked po- lice squad car with tactical equipment inside,” read the statement provided to the Observer. “Some officers were struck by water bottles, but no significant injuries occurred. The ar- rested person was transported to the hospital for treatment prior to being transported and booked into the Dallas County Jail.” The large assembly moved down Single- ton before turning into the La Bajada neigh- borhood behind Trinity Groves. Organizers told us that while the rally had been a planned gathering, the march was not planned and occurred organically as pro- testers felt called to mobilize. During the protesters’ march, a much larger police force had gathered on the bridge. Around 70 officers stood in tactical gear, block- ing traffic and the bridge’s entrance, and police vehicles of all sizes lined the surrounding streets. It was the department’s most signifi- cant show of force since 2020, and as protest- ers approached the officers around 9:30 p.m., it felt like the evening could be nearing the tip- ping point into a similar situation to five years ago. The two lines stood separated by only a few yards, as many of the protesters screamed expletives at the officers. Some organizers called for protesters to step away from the line of officers, remain peaceful, and not throw things at the police. Eventually, a line of volunteers in yellow vests was able to move the majority of protesters off the street and back into the park area. Some protesters resisted, though. Around two dozen remained in front of the officers, yelling and taunting the police. A handful wore gas masks and goggles, prepared for potential escalation. At this point in the eve- ning, police declared the assembly unlawful and warned protesters to disperse, threaten- ing the potential of using tear gas and mak- ing arrests. “I’m fucking sick of it and people in LA are fucking sick of it too, and I’m standing behind them,” Nick W., a protester who re- mained in front of the officers while wearing a gas mask, told the Observer. “I personally just hate the fucking cops. The police were founded on racism, the entire country was.” Just before 10:30 p.m., police formed a line closing off the intersection and began approaching the protesters while chanting “Move Back.” Some protesters threw water bottles at the officers, and one lit firework was thrown at the line, which exploded in the street. The Observer did not witness the use of any gas or rubber bullets, and no other arrests were seen. Victoria Williams, a lifelong Dallas resi- dent who could see the commotion from her downtown residence and decided to watch, told the Observer she felt uncomfortable by the prominence of other nations’ flags at the event. Mexican and Palestinian flags were the most common at the gathering, although some Venezuelan, Puerto Rican and United States flags were flown. “My father was an only child, and he vol- unteered for the Vietnam War to protect this country,” Williams said. “At his funeral, they folded that flag up real nice, so it is insulting to watch our flag burned and spit on.” The Observer did not witness the burning of any flags. For the next hour, police stood at the edge of Singleton and blocked protesters from re- taking the road. The crowd dwindled to only around 50 before it disbanded entirely. Esperanza Tomeo is an organizer with the Latino Civil Rights group, the Brown Berets. She said her organization “consistently dis- cusses and prepares for” the potential of po- lice escalation during protests, and in a way, the rally stood as a test for how Dallas’ new police Chief, Daniel Comeaux, would handle such a demonstration. Unlike five years ago, when police escalated a largely peaceful pro- test in a way that reaffirmed community con- cerns about overpolicing, last week’s demonstration was largely allowed to run its course without major police interference. Comeaux took office just a little over a month ago and is set to address the Commu- nity Police Oversight Board for the first time this evening. He’s already received push- back for statements made to Fox News, which he says were taken out of context. The statement “Pick another city. Don’t come to Dallas. You’re not welcome” has been tied to Comeaux’s stance on migrants. However, he says he was responding to a question about violent individuals, not im- migration policy, and the quote was taken out of context. Still, Tomeo says she is wary of how a police department willing to work with federal immigration enforcement will impact her city. “I’m from California myself, and so I have been hearing first-hand of what’s been hap- pening, and it’s mirroring a lot of what’s happening here,” Tomeo told the Observer. “People can’t go out and buy groceries, they can’t go to the store, they can’t go do things with their families. They’re stuck in their homes and paralyzed. Entire communities are paralyzed by fear.” ▼ POLITICS FIXER UPPER LOCAL LAWMAKER REQUESTS FEDERAL FUNDS FOR DART RENOVATIONS. BY ALYSSA FIELDS N orth Texas’s largest public transport system, the Dallas Area Rapid Tran- sit (DART), just barely skirted sig- nificant funding cuts this legislative session. Now, the time to ask for money for ongoing advancements is nigh, and U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson is doing just that, having requested $3 million in federal funding for renovation projects to increase an Uptown DART sta- tion’s accessibility features. “This project will enhance the customer experience and align with the Federal Transit Administration’s priorities of safety, modernization, and equity while en- hancing transit within some of North Tex- as’s most economically disadvantaged communities,” reads the request sent to the chairman of the House Committee on Ap- propriations. The requested funding for the DART sta- tion project, which will replace two inclina- tors, diagonal moving elevators to assist people who cannot access staircases and es- calators, as part of the transit system’s long- term initiative to improve its infrastructure, is one of 15 funding projects advocated for by Johnson. “Each project was shaped by commu- nity input and reflects the priorities of those I represent in Congress,” said John- son in a press release. “These aren’t just line items in a budget—they’re tools for growth and long-overdue investments in the future of North Texas. As Congress continues to determine spending for the next year, I’m proud to advocate for bring- ing tax dollars back home to support these critical investments.” The additional funding to DART comes weeks after the transit system issued a pan- icked memo against a House bill that could’ve significantly reduced member city contributions to regional transit authorities in Texas. “This bill isn’t a tweak to funding. It’s a full-on dismantling of the DART system,” said Jeamy Molina, chief communications officer for DART, in a release advocating against the “DART Killer” bill. “The people of North Texas voted twice to fund a unified, regional transit system. House Bill 3187 completely ignores their voice and puts the future of public transportation in jeopardy.” After widespread opposition and public outcry, the bill failed. In 2025, DART was operating on a $1.8 billion budget, a good chunk of which goes to salaries, but a small percentage will go to renovations and other utility costs. The inclinator replacement, which began in April, is estimated to be completed around November. Until then, the transit system will provide a free bus bridge and shuttle service between stations to limit ser- vice interruptions. DART did not respond to media inquiries about any potential issues construction delays could create for persons in wheelchairs. DART, though attacked for its lack of routes in a region that emphasizes highway travel, is a crucial service for disabled Dalla- sites who cannot drive, and proper accessi- bility to the stations is key to mobility. “DART’s inclinators are critical to main- taining convenient and efficient station ac- cess,” said Johnson’s release. “Replacing the entire inclinator system will increase the op- erability and maintainability of this lift equipment and decrease downtime and in- convenience to DART riders. This is espe- cially important for mobility-impaired rail customers.” Public transportation is a vital service for many disabled residents and has been a driv- ing force in landmark accessibility expan- sion laws, says Christopher McGreal, a Dallas-based senior litigation attorney at Disability Rights Texas. “Momentum really built in the 1980s, leading up to what now is a cornerstone law, which is the Americans With Disabilities Act, which was passed in the early 90s,” said McGreal. “One of the big drivers and exam- ples of inaccessibility of the ADA was trans- portation. A lot of the main fixed-route buses did not have accessible lifts. You would literally have protests of individuals in their mobility device chaining themselves to the buses to be able to show the most dra- matic effect of ‘we’re not having equal access to transportation.’” Since then, federal regulations around accessible transportation have greatly ex- panded, including paratransit services, which include door-to-door services for qualifying passengers with disabilities. Mc- Greal says both services are essential for the proper and fair mobility of people with dis- abilities. “There is a good percentage, a healthy percentage of individuals that do rely on paratransit as well as the fixed line route,” said McGreal. “Persons with disabilities rely on that transit service.” The lawyer reiterates that accessible transportation has long stood as a pillar of equitable accessibility for people with dis- abilities. “Transportation has its own unique his- tory and is symbolic, as well as practical, for persons with disabilities, particularly with physical disabilities… [who want] the same equal access that other transit riders use public transportation.” As for inclinator replacements, McGreal says that keeping accessible infrastructure elements up to date is integral to providing for the disabled community. “If you’re unable to [keep stations acces- sible], that’s almost a de facto denial of ser- vice.” Unfair Park from p4 Emma Ruby Protesters march near Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge on June 9.
