“Black Lives Matter,” “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot!,” and “No Justice, No Peace, No Racist A** Police,” were just some of the chants that protestors forcefully yelled as they marched down the streets of Atlanta, Friday, July 8. The Black Lives Matter rally, which was sponsored by the Georgia chapter National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, started with speeches from prominent members of the community at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Following the speeches, citizens by the hundreds blocked city streets in protest of the recent police involved shootings of two African American males. After returning to the museum, a group of hundreds of protestors broke off and headed toward the entrance of the interstate. Police met the protestors and stood their ground for hours.
Hundreds of people gathered at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights to protest against police brutality and racial inequality, Friday, July 8, 2016. The protest was organized by the Georgia chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Following a diverse group of speakers, the group marched around the city.
Francys Johnson, president of the Georgia chapter National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, speaks to the crowd of hundreds gathered at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Friday, July 8, 2016. “We are down here to talk about the truth,” Johnson said. “There is a culture that is corrupt in policing. And it doesn’t matter whether the police has a white face or a black place. It’s the system that’s the problem.”
Raised fists and skyscrapers reflect in a cheering protestors sunglasses during the planned event, Friday, July 8, 2016.
The crowd of hundreds of protestors react to a speaker during the gathering at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, July 8, 2016.
Protestors chant and carry signs down Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd. during the planned rally, Friday, July 8, 2016.
Richard Jones, Atlanta Chapter president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, directs the protestors to go with the flow of traffic, during the march, Friday, July 8, 2016.
Javier, 12 (from left), Elijah, 11, Emanuel, 10, and Baruk, 13, hold their fists in the air as they walk down Peachtree street during the protest, July 8, 2016. The boys guardian said the boys were frustrated with the recent police involved shootings and instead of getting them involved in a negative way, he wanted them to channel their energy in a non violent way.
An Atlanta police department officer halts traffic on Portman Blvd. and watches as the crowd of protestors march down Peachtree street, July 8, 2016.
Maxwell Daniels watches the protestors move down Marietta street on the shoulders of his father, Titus, during the march, Friday, July 8, 2016. “It’s all about him knowing his history,” Titus said.
Poetess Sasha Wolf, pauses during her rendition of her poem, “Prostituted Minds,” that she recited to the crowd of protestors during the event, Friday, July 8, 2016.
As protestors began to march in the middle of traffic down Marietta street, Kashay Jones pulled her body through the sunroof and cheered along with the crowd, Friday, July 8, 2016.
Overcome with emotions, Colin Black, right, and Hadass Gerson, shed tears as protestors march down Marietta street during the rally, Friday, July 8, 2016.
Hundreds of protestors maneuver down Carnegie Way, chanting “Black Lives Matter,” and “No Justice, No Peace, No racist a** police,” Friday, July 8, 2016.
Gang members hold up their opposing colors in unity as the protestors took a rest in the middle of Baker street, Friday, July 8, 2016.
After diverting from the marked rally route through the city, a large group of protestors ended their march at the National Center of Civil and Human Rights, Friday, July 8, 2016.
Protestors jump over a fence as the marchers ended their route at the National Center of Civil and Human Rights, Friday, July 8, 2016. Administrators of the museum advised the group that they were no longer able to congregate at the establishment because it was private property. After a few minutes of negotiations, the administration gave the group of thousands permission to meet on the lawn adjacent to the building.
Georgia State Patrol troopers block the highway as thousands of protestors attempted to march on the interstate, Friday, July 8, 2016. Some protestors spoke calmly to the police officers while others shouted about their concerns of police brutality and the recent police involved shootings.
Two women walk, hands linked, at the front lines of the police blockade, Friday, July 8, 2016.
Protestors stand toe to toe with Georgia state troopers as they block the entrance to the interstate, Friday, July 8, 2016. Along with the Atlanta Police Department, the state troopers stood ready with zip ties, in case arrests needed to be made.
Georgia State Patrol troopers and Atlanta Police Department officers block the highway as thousands of protestors attempted to march on the interstate, Friday, July 8, 2016. Some protestors spoke calmly to the police officers while others shouted about their concerns of police brutality and the recent police involved shootings.
Protestors chant “Black lives matter” through a fence as a group of police officers blockade hundreds of protestors attempting to march on the interstate, Friday, July 8, 2016.
A protestor is confronted by a police officer as she attempted to walk toward the blocked crowd on the highway entrance, Friday, July 8, 2016.
An Atlanta Police Department helicopter flies above the police blockade, Friday, July 8, 2016. A crowd of hundreds of protestors started toward the interstate entrance and blocked the intersection for more than 6 hours.
Surrounded by a group of linked protestors, Michelle Hudson says a prayer for peace and the end to injustices, Friday, July 8, 2016.
Michael Johnson (the fifth) V, 12 (right), holds back his father, Michael Johnson Sr., 47, as he confronts an Atlanta Police officer during the protest, Friday, July 8, 2106.
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