The center of the city of Atlanta, in the US state of Georgia, was the scene of a violent demonstration on Saturday night, after the death of an environmental activist.
Hooded and black-clad protesters hurled rocks and set off fireworks in front of a skyscraper, where the Atlanta Police Foundation is located.
In addition, they set fire to a police car, broke windows and vandalized walls with ‘graffiti’ messages against the police.
These protesters were part of a group of hundreds of people who had gathered and marched down the popular Peachtree Street, to remember the death of an environmental protester, identified as Tortuguita.
According to the Associated Press news agency, Tortuguita died Wednesday when authorities evacuated a small group of protesters from a planned public safety training center for Atlanta, which activists have dubbed “Cop City.” [cidade da polícia]”.
The Georgia State Bureau of Investigation said the protester was killed by police officers after he shot and wounded a soldier. However, the activists questioned the version of events and demanded an independent investigation.
Meanwhile, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said during a press conference that authorities arrested six people on Saturday and recovered explosive devices.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp lamented the violence and thanked the officers who took part in the action.
“Violence and illegal destruction of property are not acts of protest,” the Republican governor wrote on Twitter. “These are crimes that will not be tolerated in Georgia,” he added.
Source: TSF
