AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Despite an official protest being canceled, protesters continued to gather Sunday in downtown Austin for a third day.
Protesters began gathering around noon at the State Capitol, just outside the Capitol grounds on 11th Street. After about an hour, protesters made their way south towards Austin City Hall; after demonstrating there for about an hour, crowds began to move back towards the Capitol and towards Austin Police headquarters at Interstate 35 and 8th Street.
The Austin Justice Coalition, who helped to organize Sunday's planned event, said that outsiders were planing to "possibly hijack" the event.
Not all of the activity was isolated to the downtown area. Austin Police reported a possible looting incident at Lakeline Mall around 2:30 p.m., with no suspects in custody.
Around 3:30 p.m., protesters again took to the mainlanes of Interstate 35 around 8th Street, blocking traffic in both directions. Austin Police and other agencies eventually deployed smoke and tear gas to force protesters off the highway, and again set up a perimeter along the edges of the highway to keep protesters from blocking traffic. APD initially denied using tear gas, but later issued a correction.
Texas Department of Public Safety officials said the demonstrations at the Capitol were relatively peaceful, with no arrests or citations as of 4 p.m.
Later Sunday, around 7:15 p.m., Austin Police reported looting at a north Austin Target store at the Capital Plaza shopping center at Interstate 35 and 51st Street. Police reported a large crowd and property damage, and were working to clear the area.
Around 7:45 p.m., protesters again returned to the mainlanes of I-35, stopping traffic in both directions.