Protesters smashed windows at the College Football Hall of Fame in downtown Atlanta and damaged a Chick-fil-A restaurant next door to the museum.

Some protesters were seen looting the building before several officers arrived to try to maintain order at the $68 million facility, which opened in 2014 to great fanfare after relocating from South Bend, Ind.

Several hurled garbage cans and other objects through the glass exterior of the building, which hosts football watch parties and other major events. Some then rushed inside to grab anything they could.

Nearby, a Georgia Tech police car burned as protesters chanted: “No justice, no peace.”

>> RELATED: Violence rocks Atlanta as peaceful protest ends in flames

>> PHOTOS: Atlanta rally against police violence draws hundreds, turns violent

>> COMPLETE COVERAGE: Atlanta protests 

>> RELATED: Buckhead stores, restaurants clean up after a night of riots and looting

>> FULL TEXT: Read Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms' plea for her city

>>MINUTE-BY-MINUTE: Peaceful protest turns violent

Protesters outside the College Football Hall of Fame Friday night. The HOF was defaced as crowds broke windows and went inside and took items.

Credit: Ben@bengray.com

icon to expand image

Credit: Ben@bengray.com

About the Author

Keep Reading

Carmen Gavidia Ramírez shows a portrait of her sister, Maribel Ramírez, and her nephew Evan, who died in a crash in Jackson County. Ramírez is shown at her home in Tepetitan, El Salvador. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez)

Credit: AP

Featured

Corbin Spencer, right, field director of New Georgia Project and volunteer Rodney King, left, help Rueke Uyunwa register to vote. The influential group is shutting down after more than a decade. (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2017)

Credit: Hyosub Shin