Atlanta

Climate protestors march through Atlanta; several arrests made

ATLANTA — Hundreds of people marched through parts of Atlanta Friday demanding action on climate issues as part of a global protest.

Channel 2's Lauren Pozen was there on Peachtree Street near Piedmont Road when the protestors began to march around 9:30 a.m. The protestors said they want to bring awareness to climate change.

"We are striking today in the name of trying to get folks, especially those in power, to recognize  the peril that we are in..." Chelsea Allan said.

The protestors started in Buckhead, marched through Midtown and then gathered at Piedmont Park.

Demonstrators told Pozen they picked Buckhead because a lot of powerful and influential people live and work there.

"It feels good it lets us know that other people do care about it is our problem, other humans create this problem, so it is going to be us that has to solve it too," Allan said.

As demonstrators reached Piedmont Park, some moved into the streets. That's when Atlanta police moved in.

Atlanta police tweeted that nine protestors were arrested for "attempting to block the southbound lanes of Peachtree as they approached Piedmont."

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Police are not messing around. They've arrested a handful of protesters who marched on Peachtree, towards piedmont. If you're coming from Lenox mall up this way, you expect delays. pic.twitter.com/kd0yYgG6rX

Pozen spoke to Carlos Campos, with the Atlanta Police Department,  about the arrests.

"We have no problem with free speech," Campos said. "We just want to make sure they don't get in the street and don't do anything illegal. That is all we are out here for."

Traffic was impacted for about an hour in Buckhead.

Demonstrators told Pozen they want people to confront climate change and do something about it before it's too late.

"Everyone should make a point to educate themselves on this, and it is better to do that now than later," Allan said.

Cox Media Group

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