Cops break up Atlanta protest after precinct damaged near Woodruff Park

A crowd gathered Tuesday night at Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta to protest the recent shooting of a Black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin, by police.

However, the demonstration in Atlanta only lasted about an hour before officers were deployed and the crowd was broken up due to the Zone 5 police precinct suffering damage. According to Atlanta police, eight people were arrested during the evening.

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

A protest was planned in the area at 8 p.m., which grew to more than a hundred people by 9 p.m. Police told AJC.com that they were aware of the planned event and were “monitoring” the area.

The group gathered in the park and walked through the streets toward the police precinct at Ted Turner Drive and Andrew Young International Boulevard. As the crowd moved, protesters took several police barricades and scaffolding from a nearby construction site and placed them in the roadway.

Credit: Ben@bengray.com

Tensions quickly boiled over outside the precinct when a window was shattered and a wall was spray-painted. Officers moved to arrest the person who was spray-painting, which led to a scuffle between the crowd and cops. Officers in riot gear flooded the scene, dispersing the group.

Explore3 shot, 2 fatally, in Tuesday night Wisconsin protests

After the crowd was dispersed, Atlanta police spokeswoman Officer TaSheena Brown provided a statement that said: “This was not a peaceful protest as fireworks were discharged, frozen water bottles and rocks were thrown at police officers; however we were able to quickly gain control of the crowds.”

An officer was injured from being sprayed with mace, Brown said. He is expected to be OK, Channel 2 Action News reported.

Credit: Ben@bengray.com

The protest was planned to show support for Jacob Blake, who was seen being shot several times by police in a viral video, igniting a new wave of protests in several cities across the country.

The 29-year-old man was shot Sunday after opening the door of an SUV, which reportedly had his three young children inside. In the video, it sounds like seven gunshots are fired, but it’s unclear how many struck Blake. On Tuesday, the attorney for Blake’s family said he is paralyzed.

The man who said he filmed the cellphone video of the shooting, 22-year-old Raysean White, said he saw Blake scuffling with three officers and heard them yell, “Drop the knife! Drop the knife!” before the gunfire erupted. White said he didn’t see a knife in Blake’s hands.

The officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.