Protestors line the streets of downtown Atlanta to call for mayor to stop APD training facility

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Protestors took to the streets of downtown Atlanta on Tuesday afternoon to oppose the controversial APD training facility set to be built in DeKalb County.

The march that started around 12 p.m. is calling for Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens to stop the construction at the facility.

A music festival at the site over the weekend turned into chaos when more than 100 protestors changed into black clothing and entered the construction area and began to throw large rocks, bricks, Molotov cocktails and fireworks at police officers. It ended with 23 people arrested and charged with domestic terrorism.

Channel 2′s Richard Elliot was in downtown Atlanta when demonstrators left Woodruff Park and marched through the area. The group paused to protest outside the Georgia Pacific building and then the AT&T Long Lines building before returning to the park.

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Dozens of Atlanta police officers and Fulton County sheriff’s deputies kept a close eye on the protestors in case it turned violent like Sunday’s demonstration.

Other than showering the police with insults, protestors were completely peaceful.

“I mean, they’re peaceful enough. They’re not bothering anybody,” Kelly Williams said.

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Law enforcement on scene Tuesday simply watched and made sure protestors stayed on the sidewalk to keep themselves and drivers safe.

Georgia State University Yasmine Jackson told Elliot that she doesn’t mind the protest as long as it’s peaceful.

“I feel like it’s very empowering. I love to see peaceful protests. I always like to see peaceful protests,” she said.

Some of the protestors said they planned an arts festival at the site of the facility.

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