Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency on Thursday ahead of possible protests in Atlanta this weekend in a bid to prevent the unrest and chaos that unfolded during riots last week .
The order provides for the call-up of 1,000 National Guard soldiers. It expires on February 9.
“Georgians respect peaceful protest, but do not condone acts of violence against persons or property,” the order reads.
ATLANTA ANTI-POLICE RIOTS HURT DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, WORKERS’ WALLETS, EMPLOYEES SAY
Police block downtown streets following a protest Saturday in Atlanta over the death of an environmental activist who was killed after authorities said the 26-year-old shot and killed a soldier. the state.
(AP Photo/Alex Slitz)
The order says a state of emergency has been declared due to “unlawful assembly, violence, overt threats of violence, disturbance of the peace and tranquility of this state, and existing danger to persons and property.”
The move comes after demonstrators took to the streets of Atlanta last weekend to protest the death of 26-year-old environmental activist Manuel Esteban Paez Teran. He was shot and killed by the Georgia State Patrol after authorities said Teran shot and injured a state trooper who was trying to clear protesters from the construction site of a new safety training center community dubbed by activists “Cop City”.
This area is the planned site for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center and has been the subject of fierce opposition from protesters.
Atlanta Police Department SUV burning during protests over the weekend. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is declaring a state of emergency ahead of further unrest this weekend.
(Billy Heath/Fox 5)
In Atlanta, some businesses were damaged when rioters threw rocks and bricks at windows. Masked activists dressed in black threw rocks and lit fireworks in front of a skyscraper that houses the Atlanta Police Foundation, smashing large glass windows. The walls were also vandalized with anti-police graffiti as stunned tourists dispersed.
Some of those arrested were found with explosives.
Fox News Digital obtained six snaps for those charged with domestic terrorism, other offenses for the unrest in downtown Atlanta overnight. They are left to right, clockwise: Nadja Geier, 24, of Nashville, Tennessee; Madeleine Feola, 22, of Spokane, Wash.; Ivan Ferguson, 23, of Nevada; Graham Evatt, 20, of Decatur, Georgia; Francis Carrol, 22, of Kennebunkport, Maine; and Emily Murphy, 37, of Grosse Isle, Michigan.
(Atlanta Police Department)
At least six people are charged with domestic terrorism linked to the riots.
They have been identified as Ivan Ferguson, 23, of Nevada, Graham Evatt, 20, of Decatur, Georgia, Nadja Geier, 24, of Nashville, Tennessee; Madeleine Feola, 22, of Spokane, Wash.; Francis Carrol, 22, of Kennebunkport, Maine; and Emily Murphy, 37, of Grosse Isle, Michigan.
Meanwhile, police departments in major cities like Austin, Texas, Los Angeles, California and Washington, D.C., were bracing for possible unrest ahead of Friday’s release of video depicting a confrontation between five Memphis police officers. and Tire, 29. Nichols, who died three days later.
The Austin Police Department told Fox News Digital that it is monitoring events in Memphis and that its officers “will be on tactical alert beginning Friday morning.” A law enforcement source told Fox News Digital that the Los Angeles Police Department has units on standby.
Memphis Police Department officers Demetrius Haley, Tadarrius Bean, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills and Justin Smith were fired Jan. 18 for their roles in the arrest of the late Tire Nichols.
(Memphis Police Department)
“The Metropolitan Police Department has been notified by law enforcement partners regarding five officers who have been fired and charged in Memphis Tennessee. We understand that a video will be released that contains disturbing content that does not represent the values to which law enforcement officers are sworn to uphold,” the MPD said.
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“The Metropolitan Police Department has fully activated all sworn personnel for possible First Amendment activity in the District of Columbia.”
The New York Police Department said it was monitoring the situation in Memphis.
