Rallies to protest the decision not to indict Ferguson, MO police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown spilled into Atlanta’s streets and blocked the Downtown Connector on Tuesday night.
Vigils at Underground Atlanta and Woodruff Park splintered into marches through city streets including Edgewood Avenue, Boulevard, DeKalb Avenue, Decatur Street, near the State Capitol and back onto Peachtree Street and up to Ralph McGill Boulevard. A group of protesters also temporarily blocked northbound lanes of I-75-85 near Freedom Parkway.
There were reports of some arrests and vandalism, including broken windows at the Wells Fargo Bank and other businesses, but Atlanta Police officers in full riot gear were on hand to monitor the protesters.
Atlanta Police Chief George Turner gave a press briefing just before 11 p.m. stating that “splinter groups” had broken away from earlier peaceful protests at Atlanta University Center and Underground Atlanta. He said Atlanta officers arrested four on the Downtown Connector, while the Georgia State Patrol made other arrests.
Turner said 21 arrests were made along Peachtree on charges ranging from a felony weapons charge to obstruction, to impeding traffic. He said some protesters broke windows at Meehan’s, Wells Fargo, and in a police vehicle and taxi.