PHOTOS: Road closures, protests and arriving journalists ahead of Atlanta presidential debate

JGSS

By Jason Getz and Steve Schaefer

Updated June 27, 2024

Julie Robertson of Atlanta cools off while wearing a mouse costume for a PETA protest against animal testing near the intersection of 10th Street NW and Spring Street NW in Atlanta on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Nearby, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump participated in a debate hosted by CNN. (Seeger Gray / AJC)

Brandon Beachum of the Party for Socialism and Liberation plays the drums at a pro-Palestinian protest near the intersection of 10th Street NW and Spring Street NW in Atlanta on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Nearby, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump participated in a debate hosted by CNN. (Seeger Gray / AJC)

Julie Robertson of Atlanta wears a mouse costume for a PETA protest against animal testing near the intersection of 10th Street NW and Spring Street NW in Atlanta on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Nearby, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump participated in a debate hosted by CNN. (Seeger Gray / AJC)

Yaseen, 4, a Palestinian resident of Atlanta, interacts with pro-Palestinian protesters near the intersection of 10th Street NW and Spring Street NW in Atlanta on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Nearby, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump participated in a debate hosted by CNN. (Seeger Gray / AJC)

Pro-Palestinian protesters rest by a projected image of President Joe Biden as “Dark Brandon” near the intersection of 10th Street NW and Spring Street NW in Atlanta on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Nearby, President Biden and former President Donald Trump participated in a debate hosted by CNN. (Seeger Gray / AJC)

Police stand between traffic and a pro-Palestinian protest near the intersection of 10th Street NW and Spring Street NW in Atlanta on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Nearby, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump participated in a debate hosted by CNN. (Seeger Gray / AJC)

Protesters march and chant slogans during an Atlanta public safety training center protest during the presidential debate in Atlanta on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Both pro-Palestinian and Atlanta public safety training center protester were involved in this protest. (Ziyu Julian Zhu / AJC)

A protester holds slogan during a Atlanta public safety training center protest during the presidential debate in Atlanta on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Both pro-Palestinian and Atlanta public safety training center protester were involved in this protest. (Ziyu Julian Zhu / AJC)

A protester writes slogan on a piece of cardboard during the Atlanta public safety training center protest during the presidential debate in Atlanta on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Both pro-Palestinian and Atlanta public safety training center protester were involved in this protest. (Ziyu Julian Zhu / AJC)

Armed Georgia State Patrol officers were seen during the Atlanta public safety training center protest during the presidential debate in Atlanta on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Both pro-Palestinian and Atlanta public safety training center protester were involved in this protest. (Ziyu Julian Zhu / AJC)

Police presence was seen at the intersection of 10th Street NW and State Street during the Atlanta pubic safety training center protest during the presidential debate in Atlanta on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Both pro-Palestinian and Atlanta public safety training center protester were involved in this protest. (Ziyu Julian Zhu / AJC)

A general view of the Spin Room at the Media Filing Center at McCamish Pavilion, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. Later Thursday, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump face off during their first presidential debate at CNN. (Jason Getz / AJC)

Devin Barrington-Ward, a candidate for Atlanta City Council Post 3 At-Large, speaks to a crowd of pro-Palestinian protestors near the intersection of 10th Street NW and Spring Street NW in Atlanta on Thursday, June 27, 2024.

An activist speaks to a crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters near the intersection of 10th Street NW and Spring Street NW in Atlanta on Thursday, June 27, 2024.

Jawahir Kamil leads the Palestine protester on 10th Street near the Trump/Biden Debate site in Atlanta on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Steve Schaefer / AJC)

People walk by a mobile sign truck on 10th Street near the Trump/Biden Debate site in Atlanta on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Steve Schaefer / AJC)

Thomas Tulis (right) and Bob Kunst talk on 10th Street near the Trump/Biden Debate site in Atlanta on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Steve Schaefer / AJC)

Gov. Brian Kemp walks down stairs after he was interviewed by a media member at the Media Filing Center at McCamish Pavilion, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. Later Thursday, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump face off during their first presidential debate at CNN. (Jason Getz / AJC)

Members of the media gather in the spin room at the Media Filing Center at McCamish Pavilion, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. Later Thursday, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump face off during their first presidential debate at CNN. (Jason Getz / AJC)

Captain A. Hill with the Georgia Tech Police moves signage into place along Fowler Street and 6th Street as roads closed early Thursday morning, June 27, 2024 near CNN Studios on the Techwood campus in Midtown ahead of Thursday night’s debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. The Copa América game between the U.S. National Team and Panama was held at 6 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium bringing thousands of soccer fans downtown. (John Spink/AJC)

I-75/I-85 Interstate traffic travels by CNN Studios on the Techwood campus in Midtown ahead of Thursday night’s debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump on Thursday morning, June 27, 2024. The Copa América game between the U.S. National Team and Panama was held at 6 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium bringing thousands of soccer fans downtown. (John Spink/AJC)

A man runs along 10th street as workers assemble security fencing. Police are blocking multiple roads ahead of the 2024 CNN Presidential Debate. Thursday, June 27, 2024 (Ben Hendren for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

A man crosses Fowler Street across from the CNN studio Techwood campus. Police are blocking multiple roads ahead of the 2024 CNN Presidential Debate. Thursday, June 27, 2024 (Ben Hendren for the Atlanta Journal Constitution)

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Julie Robertson of Atlanta cools off while wearing a mouse costume for a PETA protest against animal testing near the intersection of 10th Street NW and Spring Street NW in Atlanta on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Nearby, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump participated in a debate hosted by CNN. (Seeger Gray / AJC) (Seeger Gray / AJC)