Six arrested in Atlanta after protest against shooting of activist turns violent

According to CNN, at least six individuals were detained in Atlanta on Saturday evening after a demonstration that began in response to the deadly police shooting of an activist. At a news conference, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum stated that the protestors were marching peacefully until a portion inside the crowd began their criminal actions. According to Schierbaum, the protesters even damaged windows and assaulted police cruisers.

Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the US state of Georgia, with a population of around 4.96 lakh people. He also added that the police had detained six persons and were continuing to examine whether any more people were involved in criminal conduct.

According to CNN, three businesses had their windows damaged.
A police car on fire was seen on social media in the downtown area, and video from CNN affiliate WANF showed damaged windows at a Wells Fargo bank.

Protests are being held in opposition to a proposed USD 90 million, 85-acre law enforcement training complex, called “Cop City” by opponents, and only days after a 26-year-old protester was killed by police near the training centre site.

Earlier on Wednesday, the activist was fatally shot by police when officials were evacuating people from the proposed facility’s location, CNN said. Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, the activist who was slain, was recognised.

Activists associated with movements protesting the facility, said Teran was a “forest defender” working to fight environmental racism. He was a “sweet, warm, very smart and caring” person, they said.

Teran’s mother told CNN on Saturday night that she was outraged and powerless in the aftermath of her son’s murder.

“He was attacked,” she added.

Heartbroken, the victim’s mother said, “He was not a violent person. He was a pacifist. He would tell me that all the time. ‘I am a pacifist.’ He wouldn’t even kill an animal,” Belkis Teran told CNN.

“Tortuguita,” the nickname Teran went by, was because of their love for turtle conservation, the mother said.