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Atlanta mayor warns against violent protests

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Jan 27, 2023

This afternoon Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens sent a letter to city employees in advance of the expected video release of a brutal encounter between Memphis, Tennessee, police and Tyre Nichols.

“We know from experience that videos like this can rightfully spark emotional responses,” Dickens said in the letter. “I am a firm proponent of full participation, community dialogue and peaceful demonstration. Atlanta is the Cradle of the Civil Rights Movement, and the City is working to ensure that anyone who is looking to lift their voice in peaceful protest or demonstration in the days to come is able to do so safely.”

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will be monitoring metro reaction to the video release from Memphis and provide live updates through the night.

About the Author

Dan Klepal is editor of the local government team, supervising nine reporters covering county and municipal governments and metro Atlanta. Klepal came to the AJC in 2012, after a long career covering city halls in Cincinnati and Louisville, Ky. He has covered Gwinnett and Cobb counties before spending three years on the investigative team.

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