12 Occupy Atlanta followers arrested in AT&T protest

By Christian Boone

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Police arrested a dozen protesters affiliated with Occupy Atlanta on Monday after they invaded the lobby of the AT&T Midtown Center to protest recently announced layoffs by the telecommunications giant.

Despite the arrests, Occupy Atlanta spokesman Tim Franzen said the group, joined by members of  the Communications Workers of America, plans to maintain a presence outside the building, where they've set up camp on the corner of Ponce de Leon Avenue and West Peachtree Street.

The campsite is public property, according to AT&T spokesman Joe Chandler. "We are working with the authorities, as we were earlier today," Chandler said.

An Atlanta police spokesman said the 12 demonstrators arrested Monday were charged with criminal trespass and taken to Fulton County Jail.

Franzen said Occupy won't leave until AT&T rescinds its plan to lay off 740 workers.

"At a time when unemployment is at a record high in the state of Georgia, we can’t afford to lose one more job," according to a statement on Occupy Atlanta's webpage.

AT&T disputed the group's assertions, saying the total number of layoffs is closer to 550.

"And it’s important to note that almost all of the affected employees have a guaranteed job offer, and that we are attempting to match as many as possible with other AT&T jobs for which they are qualified," the company said in a statement.

The layoffs are a result of "the shift in our business as more consumers disconnect their home wireline access," the statement said. This trend, it continued, "is driving a shift in our employee base, and we are eliminating some jobs in our declining wireline business."

Monday marked the second time in four days that Occupy demonstrators have been arrested in large numbers.

On Friday, eight protesters were taken into custody at Chase Bank on Caroline Street near Little Five Points, where they rallied against the imminent eviction of an Old Fourth Ward homeowner.

It's unclear if the encampment outside AT&T may lead to further arrests.

"We will enforce the law if it is being broken," said Atlanta police spokesman John Chafee.