Protesters in Houston Demand Justice After the ICE Killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo

In Houston, Texas protests continued this weekend in response to the ICE killing of 52-year-old Mexican father Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. Dozens of groups and businesses led an economic blackout Friday, while hundreds of protesters marched to Houston’s City Hall Saturday demanding justice and for the ICE agents involved in the fatal shooting to be identified. Advocates have also called for the release of key witnesses from ICE custody — one of whom is Salgado’s younger brother, Victor. This comes as the Harris County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that a white powder found in Salgado’s van was not drugs, but an electrolyte salt mixture to stay hydrated while working in construction during Houston’s scorching summer. The substance was the subject of an unsealed FBI search warrant. David Donatti, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Texas, said in a statement, “By taking the unusual steps of securing and then unsealing their search warrant, the government has demonstrated that it is more interested in creating a false narrative than in seeking the truth. The Salgados deserve real answers about what happened to their father, and we reiterate our call for an independent and complete investigation.” The Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Friday held an oversight hearing in Houston on Salgado’s ICE killing, where two of his sons, Ronaldo and Lorenzo Jr., testified. Click here to see our coverage of the case. www.democracynow.org