ATLANTA — Georgia’s governor Brian Kemp (R), declared today, a state of emergency and activated the state National Guard as violence flared in Atlanta following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.
Protests in Atlanta Georgia over the death of George Floyd, took a destructive turn yesterday evening and the early hours of Saturday.
A #fire was started in the rear of the #Target located at 2539 Piedmont Road. Fireworks set off in multiple locations throughout as well. We have contained the fire and are working to remove the smoke. #Atlanta #ATL #PIO pic.twitter.com/k5CbAQANzv
— Cortez Stafford (@CortezRStafford) May 30, 2020
On Friday, protesters marched peacefully from Centennial Olympic Park to the state Capitol, and then back. Then a rally was held inside the park, but then things took a turn shortly before 5:30 p.m. when some type of scuffle happened between a protester and an Atlanta police officer right outside the CNN Center along Centennial Olympic Drive.
Just saw the ATT store on Piedmont and Sydney Marcus broken into and looted. pic.twitter.com/KzawneinJZ
— Matt Johnson (@MattWSB) May 30, 2020
Atlanta Police kept protesters at bay for quite a while by forming a barricade but shortly after 8 p.m protesters took a destructive turn ., After 8 p.m., protesters started smashing the doors of CNN building. Then protesters moved to parked police cruisers and began jumping on the cars, smashing the windows and set it on fire.
During the night the protesters, proceeded to smash windows and deface store fronts and other tourists attractions like the College Football Hall of Fame. They also put on fire, to more police cars and lit on fire parts of the visitor center in Centennial Olympic Park.
They’re moving twd Andy Young where there is a large plume of smoke next to SkyView Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/r5poGQ34FR
— 🔥Fireball Turnbull 🚁 (@DougTurnbull) May 30, 2020
Friday 11:15 p.m – more officer in riot gear were deployed around Centennial Olympic Park, where they started shooting off smoke bombs to help disperse the protesters. While most of the protesters seemed to leave the area, a portion of them headed to Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza.
Based on reports by WSB TV2, first looting took place at the AT&T store across the street from Lenox Square. From the same source we learn that around that time Gov. Brian Kemp called the Georgia’s National Guard in, to help keep the peace around parts of the city. Protester continued to loot businesses across Lenox Square and Buckhead throughout the night and the early morning hours of Saturday.
Lenox Marketplace in Atlanta @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/oaHng5zRDF
— Nicole Carr (@NicoleCarrWSB) May 30, 2020
Information taken by WSB-TV2, FOX News and CNN News
By Alex Ammohostianos
