Over the weekend, protests took place in DeKalb County against President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and the proposed $115 million police training center known as Cop City. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the demonstrations escalated when protesters moved onto Chamblee Tucker Road and attempted to march toward Interstate 285. Police responded with tear gas and flash bangs, resulting in at least eight arrests.
Officers from the Georgia State Patrol and DeKalb Police, wearing riot gear, intervened when protesters did not follow orders to stay on the sidewalks. Authorities declared the assembly unlawful and used crowd control methods to clear the road.
WSB-TV interviewed 70-year-old Virginia Espinoza-Norwood, who was affected by tear gas while leaving a nearby restaurant. “I couldn’t breathe. My lungs were burning, my chest was burning. My eyes were on fire. I was trying to get water, my friend was trying to throw grape juice and trying to put it on me. I just couldn’t breathe,” she said.
DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson stated that while the right to protest is respected, public safety must be maintained. She supported law enforcement's response during the event.
Rain temporarily dispersed the crowd around 3 p.m., but protesters returned, leading to more arrests. The protests, known as "No Kings" rallies, were part of a larger day of action that included at least 22 events across metro Atlanta and North Georgia, as noted by WSB-TV.
One protester, Leo Ponn, told FOX 5 Atlanta that police warned him to get behind the line or risk arrest.
