Regarding the Recent Incident Near Huston-Tillotson University
“To do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”
— Micah 6:8
Dear people of St. James’,
I write to you concerning the recent incident near Huston-Tillotson University involving a student and a neighborhood resident in a verbal altercation over street parking. The encounter, captured in a now-viral video, has raised important questions about dignity, belonging, and the changing landscape of East Austin. You can view the video and coverage of the incident here.
I have been in contact with students and university officials, who are taking this incident seriously. Students and community members have also exercised their right to peaceful protest, gathering on nearby private property. In my conversations with students, I have heard frustration, disappointment, and a deep concern about what it means to belong in a community that is rapidly changing around them.
Huston-Tillotson is more than a university in East Austin. It is a historically Black institution woven into the cultural, educational, and spiritual fabric of this community for generations. The ongoing gentrification of East Austin has brought significant tensions, particularly when the history and traditions of longstanding communities are overlooked or disregarded. Moments like this remind us that neither socioeconomic status nor property ownership makes one person more valuable than another in the eyes of God. We are all created in God’s image and deserving of dignity and respect.
Our faith calls us beyond simply acknowledging injustice toward a deeper commitment to understanding our neighbors, honoring their experiences, and recognizing our shared responsibility for the communities we inhabit.
This moment has also deepened my understanding of the ministry we are building through East Austin Canterbury. As I listen to students navigating the challenges of college life alongside the transformation of the neighborhood surrounding their university, I am reminded that ministry begins with proximity. Our calling is not simply to offer programs or gatherings, but to build relationships that allow us to hear the hopes, frustrations, and concerns of those we serve. I hope to continue bringing those experiences back to our St. James’ community so that we might grow in understanding, compassion, and solidarity with our neighbors at Huston-Tillotson.
I invite our St. James’ family to join me in this work. We can begin by listening to the voices of HT students, strengthening our relationship with the university, and finding meaningful ways to support students through hospitality, mentorship, and practical assistance. In the coming weeks, I will be working with university leaders and students to identify where our congregation’s presence and resources might be most helpful.
May we remember that being good neighbors requires more than sharing a neighborhood. It requires honoring the history of the place we call home, recognizing the dignity of those around us, and being willing to walk alongside one another in love and justice.
The Rev. Addison McMillan
Associate Rector, St. James’ Episcopal Church
Campus Missioner, East Austin Canterbury
