Announcing the Justice for Ashtian Campaign
Updated: Jun 8, 2023
On April 28, 2016, Ashtian Barnes drove onto the Sam Houston Tollway, in Houston, Texas. Immediately after Ashtian pulled onto the tollway, his car was flagged by the Harris County Toll Road Authority as having outstanding toll violations. Traffic enforcement officers were notified of the car’s location. A little more than two minutes after he was stopped, Ashtian Barnes, was shot twice in the chest at point-blank range by Deputy Constable Roberto Felix of Harris County Constable Precinct 5.
Today, Ashtian would have turned 30. He left behind a family, girlfriend, and endless possibilities for a thriving future. Please join us and the Barnes family in celebrating the life of Ashtian Barnes (August 17, 1991 - April 28, 2016).
ASHTIAN BARNES AT AN EVENT IN A BLUE SHIRT WITH A MATCHING BLUE STRIPED TIE.
Ashtian was 24 when he was murdered and his story is not an isolated incident. There have been over 1,100 murders by the police in 2020. Of those murders, 120 occurred during a traffic stop. The Texas Civil Rights Project along with the Barnes family envision a better future where traffic enforcement no longer carries firearms and where Black, brown, and poor Texans are no longer at risk of death during routine traffic stops. There is a better way and together we can demand Justice for Ashtian.
We are working closely with Ashtian’s family to advocate for significant policy changes in the City of Houston and the Harris County’s Constable's Office, including:
Disarming traffic police
Eliminating the “odor of marijuana” and marijuana possession as lawful bases for police intervention
Requiring officers to administer first-aid to anyone shot or injured
Providing grief counseling, wellness services, funeral expenses and other support to families whose loved ones were killed by police and to survivors of police violence.
Eliminating traffic fines, fees, and warrants for minor issues such as broken tail light, an expired driver's license, etc.
Sign up here for updates to our Justice for Ashtian campaign.
Further reading:
I came across this page while looking for a pdf to markdown converter to archive some civil rights docs, and honestly got pulled into Ashtian Barnes’s story-24 years old, stopped over a toll violation on April 28, 2016. It’s heavy, but seeing the concrete demands like disarming traffic police and banning “odor of marijuana” stops makes the campaign feel actionable. Glad I could save the campaign page as markdown instead of scrambling through a free pdf markdown tool.
It's inspiring to see grassroots movements like the Justice for Ashtian Campaign gaining momentum! The way this connects to broader issues in civil rights is vital, much like Slope 2 focus on community empowerment. Let's keep pushing for justice together!
This campaign is an important step toward making traffic stops safer and holding law enforcement accountable. No family should have to endure such a loss over a routine traffic stop, and meaningful policy changes are long slope rider overdue.
The way you presented complex information so simply is remarkable. I admire your ability to convey such detailed information in an accessible way. nyt midi
Every run in Slope feels slightly different to me because I cannot rely on a fixed rhythm. In slope game, I have to watch the track, adjust my movement, and make fast decisions before it is too late.