Curfew now in effect for the City of Atlanta until sunrise

The City of Atlanta is now under a curfew until sunrise.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issued the curfew for the City of Atlanta starting at 9 p.m. Saturday after a night of violent protests rocked the city Friday.

Bottoms said the curfew is in response to “recent acts of violence demonstrated throughout the city” and was an “unusual and extreme step.”

MARTA is also suspended service at 9 p.m. in accordance with the Mayor’s orders.

“This is not to infringe upon anyone’s rights,” Bottoms said in a news conference Saturday night. “You each have rights. But we cannot let happen what happened in our city last night.”

Bottoms implored people to stay home and to know where family members are.

Find yourselves in a safe place in your home this evening," Bottoms said. “Please know where your children are this evening. We don’t want to arrest anyone. We don’t want to detain anyone. But we will have order on the streets of Atlanta.”

Dozens of business were looted and 20 Atlanta police vehicles were damaged Friday night after peaceful protests condemning the death of George Floyd turned violent. At least 71 people were arrested.

Bottoms also reminded protesters that there is a global pandemic going on.

“There is still a pandemic happening,” Bottoms said. “If you were out protesting, you probably need to go get a COVID test this week.”

Gov. Brian Kemp announced Saturday that he has deployed up to 1,500 National Guard troops to keep the peace in the city.

Hundreds of protesters also gathered outside the Governor’s mansion Saturday evening. At least one person has already been detained.

Several metro Atlanta malls closed Saturday night to preempt planned protests that were circulating on social media.

FULL SPEECH: Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms give impassioned plea for protesters to go home Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms addresses the destruction that has unfolded during protests in downtown Atlanta.

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