Governor Brian Kemp has declared a 15-day state of emergency in Georgia in ancitipation of continued protests over a proposed Atlanta police training facility. As part of the emergency declaration, Kemp authorized the Georgia Department of Defense to activate up to 1,000 National Guard troops if necessary. Any troops that are called to respond will have the same powers of arrest and apprehension as law enforcement.
The State of Emergency remains in effect until Feb. 9.
Last week, the Georgia State Patrol and other agencies were at the proposed facility’s site, clearing protesters who had been camped out in the woods for months.
According to the GBI, one of the protesters, 26-year-old Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, shot a state trooper and was killed by return fire. The trooper, who hasn’t been identified due to safety concerns, is expected to survive.
Friends of Teran, who went by the nickname “Tortuguita,” have repeatedly claimed since the shooting that they are peaceful protesters.
On Saturday night, a group of hundreds of protesters gathered at Underground Atlanta before marching downtown. Protesters set a police car on fire and smashed windows out of several businesses. Six protesters were arrested.
ICYMI – The GBI and all law enforcement agencies embrace a citizen’s right to protest, but law enforcement can’t stand by while serious criminal acts are being committed and jeopardize the safety of the citizens we are sworn to protect. – Director Register https://t.co/Myvz0Qm1Y8
— GA Bureau of Investigation (@GBI_GA) January 22, 2023
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced Monday that he is preparing a case to bring domestic terrorism and multiple other felony charges against protesters who escalated the peaceful march into violence.
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