Learn about AJC's commitment to building an equitable Austin through advocacy, education, and community-driven solutions.
About AJC

Our Vision
Austin Justice Coalition’s vision is to create a just and equitable society where historically marginalized communities have the resources, opportunities, and power to thrive. They work to dismantle systemic barriers in areas such as criminal justice, education, housing, and economic mobility, ensuring that Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) are no longer disproportionately affected by injustice.
“We understand that change comes in many forms, and we are strong proponents of coalition building.”

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For
The
PEOPLE


Justice For All
We work to reform Texas' criminal justice system, addressing the stark overrepresentation of Black and Latino individuals, and promoting policies that ensure dignity and equity for all communities.
“We understand that change comes in many forms, and we are strong proponents of coalition building.”

Equitable Community
AJC is committed to building communities where justice, opportunity, and well-being are accessible to everyone by removing barriers to education, housing, and economic advancement while addressing social and racial inequities.
“We understand that change comes in many forms, and we are strong proponents of coalition building.”



Empowering The People
By dismantling barriers to voting, AJC strives to uplift historically marginalized voices and build a Texas where every citizen is equally represented.
“Democracy works best when every voice is heard, every vote counts, and every community is empowered to lead.”

TODAY
TOMORROW
FOREVER

Team
At Austin Justice Coalition, our team is made up of passionate advocates, organizers, and change-makers dedicated to advancing racial equity and justice. Together, we work to challenge systems of oppression, push for meaningful policy change, and uplift the voices in our communities. Grounded in a culture of care, we approach our work with compassion, boldness, and a deep commitment to an equitable Austin — because real change happens when we show up for one another.



Board
Austin Justice Coalition (AJC) is a community organization that focuses on improving the quality of life for people who are Black, Brown, and poor. AJC’s strategy continues to create direct and indirect impact in communities of color by influencing changes in local government and advocating for policy reform. This strategy builds on AJC’s experience and knowledge from its work thus far.
“We understand that change comes in many forms, and we are strong proponents of coalition building.”
A brief history
2015
Founded
When Austin Justice Coalition (AJC) was founded in 2015, Austin had the highest per capita rate of police shootings in Texas
2016
Better Before More Campaign Launched
One year later – in response to the Police Department’s request for $13 million to hire more officers – AJC launched the Better Before More campaign.
2019
Penned an op-ed in the New York Times
Chas Moore and Sukyi McMahon, Executive Director and AJC Board Chair at the time. Read Article
2016-2020
Highlights
1. End to Class C Misdemeanor Arrests
2. Rewritten Body Cam Policy
3. Negotiated Use of Force Policy
4. De-escalation Policy
2016-2020
Highlights Cont'd
5. Leading organization for pushing a truly separate Office of Police Oversight that allowed:
- Complaints against the APD accepted online.
- No statute of limitations for investigations.
- Public recommendations on APD incidents.
- APD chief obligated to respond in writing
2020
Financial
Until 2020, Austin Justice Coalition was fiscally sponsored by the Texas Fair Defense Project:
- View our first 990 for the year 2020
- View our first 990 for the year 2021
December 20, 2020
Toolkit Developed
AJC developed a toolkit for organizers working on police reform to leverage the police union contract process and provided training to community members on city budgeting processes.
View Toolkit
2021 - Beyond
Impacts
AJC believes in leveraging our many skills and passions to move the needle on issues of racial justice. Here are some of our most outstanding impacts




