A Houstonian's Crusade

No more shoot first? The Trayvon Martin killing could change self defense lawsin Texas

In 2007, Texas' Castle Doctrine was expanded to include the workplace,businesses and vehicles. An important "duty to retreat" clause was also dropped,giving citizens a right to use immediate deadly force based on the simpleperception of threat.
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Houston Democrat Garnet Coleman hopes to restore the law to its pre-2007language to protect minorities from a "Shoot First and Ask Questions Later"situation.
Garnet Coleman
Trayvon Martin, left, and George Zimmerman

As the Trayvon Martin shooting continues to dominate national headlines, Houston lawmaker Garnet Coleman is working to amend a Texas self-defense law similar to Florida's "Stand Your Ground" policy.

A legal protection granted throughout the United States, the so-called Castle Doctrine gives citizens the right to protect themselves in their own home if threatened with bodily harm or death.

Throughout the past half decade, however, a number of states including Florida, Arizona and Texas have extended the Castle Doctrine to apply to legally-occupied spaces like workplaces, vehicles and businesses. The changes also removed a "duty to retreat" stipulation that required citizens to attempt to flee the scene before using deadly force.

"We shouldn't have laws that profile individuals based on whether we think they may be dangerous," Texas legislator Garnet Coleman says.

This broadened scope of the law, for example, has allowed Florida neighborhood watch officer George Zimmerman to claim self-defense in the Martin shooting.

Five years ago, Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) was one of 13 state representatives to oppose the expansion of the Texas Castle Doctrine. And for the next state legislative session in January 2013, the veteran lawmaker announced he will be working to restore the law to its original form.

"The American Legislative Exchange Council and the National Rifle Association pushed this language around the country and passed it in 26 states, Texas being one of them in 2007," Coleman tells CultureMap. "I call it the 'Shoot First and Ask Questions Later' law."

Coleman says the policy allows individuals to use deadly force with only the perception of harm, rather than an actual transgression, putting minorities at a disproportional amount risk under the law.

"Say there are three male teenagers — one who is black, one who is white and one who is Latino," he says. "I don't care if you're black, white or brown . . . most people by default perceive the 17-year-old black man as the threat. We shouldn't have laws that profile individuals based on whether we think they may be dangerous."

The Houston lawmaker hopes to use the Trayvon Martin case to shed light on the problems surround the expanded version of the Castle Doctrine

"Right now, this is the just start of amending or repealing those provisions that create an atmosphere where someone can shoot first and ask questions later," Coleman says. "I'd been the lead on an anti-bullying bill since 2003, but it only passed this last year. . .

"The world changes and so do people's points of view."

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Memorial Groves restoration

Memorial Park previews new playground and visitor's center coming in 2027

Rendering courtesy of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects

Rendering of the new Camp Logan playground at Memorial Groves.

Nearly a year after announcing the restoration of the old Camp Logan as Memorial Groves, a section of Memorial Park that honors Houston's World War I veterans, Memorial Park Conservancy (MPC) unveiled additional information on the new playground and visitor center that will be on site, as well as improvements to a walking trail. The new details come on the heels of a $7.5 million donation from the Jerold B. Katz Foundation.

“We are deeply honored to be a part of this landmark project that will help bring Houston’s extraordinary history to life,” said Evan H. Katz, president of the Jerold B. Katz Foundation, in a statement. “Memorial Groves will offer a powerful place of reflection and learning – one that thoughtfully connects past and present, honoring service and sacrifice while strengthening the park’s role as a resilient, vibrant public space for generations to come.”

The donation will help fund the Camp Logan Playground, an innovative space for children that will draw on aspects of World War I training. Kids can play in oversized soldier helmets, talk through a tube shaped like an old camp bugle, and climb over giant army crates and a reproduction of hardtack, the "hard bread" fed to soldiers at the front. Each feature has real World War I insignias carved into them, giving visitors a chance to learn about the symbolism of the war. Designed by the Canadian company Earthscape, the playground will be located near the southern parking lot within easy distance of the picnic pavilion.

The visitor center, designed by Moody Nolan, will be located at the primary entrance to the park on the north side. It will house both exhibit spaces and MCP offices. The former will educate visitors about Camp Logan and Houston's role in World War I. A large breezeway between the two areas will welcome visitors into Memorial Groves. The Texas Historical Commission will provide historical markers to supplement the exhibition materials.

There's lots to learn about. From 1917 to 1919, Camp Logan trained roughly 70,000 men for service in WWI. Some 200 women were also employed at the camp, mostly as nurses and physical therapists for the wounded. In 1918, Black soldiers stationed at Camp Logan rioted against abuse and unfair incarceration from the all-white Houston Police Department.

The park's 3-mile Seymour Lieberman Trail (SLT) will also be upgraded. Approximately .7 miles of the popular running/walking trail will be moved further away from Memorial Loop Drive to allow for planting of new trees. As they mature, the trees will provide more shade for people using the trail.

“Significant enhancements will be made to the SLT within the Memorial Groves project area while maintaining the overall distance of the 3-mile loop,” MPC president and CEO Chris Ballard said. “This is one of the nation’s most popular running trails and one of Memorial Park’s top amenities. The upgrades we’re making will be enjoyed by the nearly 10,000 people who use this trail daily.”

Construction on Memorial Groves is expected top begin this year and be finished in 2027. The total cost of the project is $50.5 million, as is funded in part by the Kinder Foundation ($10 million), John L. Nau III ($7.5 million), Brown Foundation ($7.5 million) and now the Katz Foundation ($7.5 million).

Rendering courtesy of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects

The playground will include elements inspired by WWI.