[1] The Austin Brown Beret chapter was considered a grassroots organization with the intentions of protecting youth and the rights of citizens.
On July 24, 1973, in Dallas, Texas, a 12-year old boy was killed while in the custody of a police officer who interrogated him over a soda machine burglary investigation.
The news ensued violent protests in the city, drawing crowds of enraged citizens and Brown Berets from local Texas chapters.
[2] The event sparked demands of civil rights and police reform, uniting the Mexican-American communities in Texas cities over such issues.
With their complaints being ignored by the city, protests were led and organized by the Brown Berets and their leader and Chicano political activist, Paul Hernandez.