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Police clear protesters from outside Atlanta city jail

Protests against the Trump Administration’s “zero-tolerance” policy started Saturday and lasted until  Monday.
Protests against the Trump Administration’s “zero-tolerance” policy started Saturday and lasted until Monday.
By Chelsea Prince
July 3, 2018

Several days of protests against a U.S. immigration policy that has separated children from their parents ended Monday afternoon when police cleared the dozens of remaining protesters from outside the Atlanta jail.

 

Police said protesters were violating the city’s urban camping law. In accordance with the law, police issued a written warning on Twitter before moving in to clear the area.

 
 

One woman, Tori AshtonTremayne, was arrested around 7 p.m Sunday after officers attempted to remove tents pitched outside the jail, according to Atlanta police. Officers told the group the tents violated the city ordinance and first asked for their removal, which was refused. Tremayne faces a disorderly conduct charge.

“Several protesters became violent, fighting and throwing items at the officers, including frozen water bottles,” Atlanta police spokesman Officer Jarius Daugherty told AJC.com. “One woman was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.”

Tori Tremayne (Atlanta Detention Center)
Tori Tremayne (Atlanta Detention Center)

No officers were reported injured, according to Channel 2 Action News and no additional arrests were made.

On Saturday, as part of weekend demonstrations across the country, about 4,000 people peacefully walked from the detention center, which houses hundreds of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency detainees, to the Richard B. Russell Federal Building.

They heard U.S. Rep. John Lewis and others denounce the Trump administration for separating more than 2,000 children from their parents as part of a “zero-tolerance” crackdown on illegal immigration at the Mexican border.

MORE: Thousands rally in Atlanta to protest immigration policy

Last week, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced the city jail will no longer accept new ICE detainees.

RELATED: Atlanta Mayor Bottoms orders jail to refuse new ICE detainees

Dozens camped outside the Atlanta Detention Center on Monday. JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
Dozens camped outside the Atlanta Detention Center on Monday. JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

About the Author

Chelsea Prince is reporter and coach on the breaking news team.

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