Georgia Declares State of Emergency Over Anti-Police Riots

Gov. Brian Kemp (R), declared a temporary emergency in Georgia on Thursday. He activated 1,000 Georgia National Guard soldiers in response to recent antipolice protests.

Kemp’s order referenced protests and riots that occurred on Saturday, which had stemmed from ongoing demonstrations against a police training facility the city is building in a wooded area of metro Atlanta.

The riotous events on Saturday had also come in response to the death of activist Manuel “Tortuguita” Teran, who are state officials say He was shot and wounded by a State Patrol trooper at the site of the planned facility, and was then killed by law enforcement.

.@FOX5Atlanta CNN pulls a CNN “largely peaceful protest” In their news segment, they mention the attack on downtown Atlanta. #Antifa & far-left extremists. Just recently, the mayor confirmed that explosives had been found on the arrestees. pic.twitter.com/wulkxaHL95

— Andy Ngô 🏳️‍🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) January 22, 2023

Atlanta officials include Mayor Andre Dickens (D), and Police Chief Darin Shierbaum. said police on Saturday arrested six individuals after some of the protesters had turned violent and broken businesses’ windows and attacked police cruisers. Dickens pointed out that some were found with explosives. “led to a police officer’s car being set on fire.”

“Make no mistake about it, these individuals meant harm to people and to property,” Dickens stated.

The Atlanta Police Department published mug shots of those arrested — most of whom were out-of-staters — and listed the charges against them:

“Georgians respect peaceful protesters, but do not tolerate acts of violence against persons or properties,” Kemp wrote his emergency order.

The governor was cited “unlawful assemblage, violence, overt threats of violence, disruption of the peace and tranquility of this state and danger existing to persons and property” as the reason for the state emergency, which expires on February 9.

Kemp has taken a strong stance against peaceful demonstrators from the beginning of the protests.

“These individuals are members of a broader network of militant activists who have committed similar acts of domestic terrorism and intimidation across the country with no regard for the people or communities impacted by their crimes,” Kemp said this in a statement on January 3.

Below is my statement regarding domestic terrorist activities that are related to the Atlanta public security training center. pic.twitter.com/RLD7mcdfX7

— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) January 3, 2023

Indeed, other states have seen groups opposed to the police facility and Teran’s death, as well as those who are attempting to stop them from being allowed into the state. Internet posts about the protests show that they have adopted this phrase. “stop cop city.”

Jared, a 23-year-old Massachusetts resident, is “Riley” Dowell, the son of Katherine Clark (D-MA), number-two Democrat, was born. arrested The Boston Police Department reports that he was charged with assaulting and vandalizing historic monuments during protests the night of the Atlanta riots.

Boston officers claimed they had been on “high alert” For more information, please visit: “Solidarity with Atlanta Forest Defenders” On Saturday, Dowell was amongst about 20 people when they met Dowell.

Ashley Oliver may be reached by email at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: @asholiver.