Protesters deface CNN headquarters in Atlanta

A police car was set on fire in Atlanta, where protesters were using barricades to break the windows of cruisers while others were jumping on the vehicles and shattering windshields, as they demonstrated against the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.A protester — getting cheers from the crowd — was seen with a Black Lives Matter flag on top of the CNN headquarters logo, which was defaced with writing that included the word "love."Activists spray-painted the logo, breaking a window and tagging doors while protesting. The Minneapolis officer who was seen on video kneeling on the neck of Floyd has been arrested and charged with murder.Hundreds of protesters confronted police outside CNN's downtown headquarters late Friday. They broke windows of the building and faced off with officers inside for a tense several minutes until officers deployed tear gas to push back the crowds. Protesters pelted officers who came over with bottles, striking some of them. Other bottles thrown at authorities exploded behind the police line, but no officers appeared to get hit. Protesters chanted, “Quit your jobs.”The officers backed their line away from the group of protesters who were throwing objects at them.Police ordered demonstrators to leave the street and threatened to arrest them if they did not leave quickly.Protesters used accelerant to burn an American flag. People were watching the scene from rooftops, some laughing at skirmishes that broke out and vandalism by the protesters.Protesters were also walking on the interstate in downtown Atlanta and appeared to be trying to block traffic.The Georgia State Patrol has responded.Earlier, as the protest appeared more calm, Kaity Brackett, 27, said she came out to the protest because she thinks the entire criminal justice system needs to be overhauled, starting with policing. She said the Ahmaud Arbery killing was a catalyst for her and referred to his death as a lynching. Arbery was killed on Feb. 23 by a former district attorney investigator and his son, who were not arrested until after video emerged months later.Related video: Protesters gather on Minneapolis highwayBrackett wore a blue mask and sat with her partner and a friend. She was less concerned about the threat from the coronavirus.“We risk our lives going to the grocery store, going to get gas,” she said. “This is more important than all of that.”

ATLANTA —

A protester — getting cheers from the crowd — was seen with a Black Lives Matter flag on top of the CNN headquarters logo, which was defaced with writing that included the word "love."

Activists spray-painted the logo, breaking a window and tagging doors while protesting.

The Minneapolis officer who was seen on video kneeling on the neck of Floyd has been arrested and charged with murder.

Hundreds of protesters confronted police outside CNN's downtown headquarters late Friday. They broke windows of the building and faced off with officers inside for a tense several minutes until officers deployed tear gas to push back the crowds.

Protesters pelted officers who came over with bottles, striking some of them. Other bottles thrown at authorities exploded behind the police line, but no officers appeared to get hit. Protesters chanted, “Quit your jobs.”

The officers backed their line away from the group of protesters who were throwing objects at them.

Protesters getting dispersed by police as the destruction if police cars outside the CNN Center continues
— Fernando Alfonso III (@fernalfonso)

Police ordered demonstrators to leave the street and threatened to arrest them if they did not leave quickly.

Protesters used accelerant to burn an American flag. People were watching the scene from rooftops, some laughing at skirmishes that broke out and vandalism by the protesters.

BREAKING: APD squad car is now on fire as the protest turns increasingly violent.
— Atlanta News First (@ATLNewsFirst)

Protesters were also walking on the interstate in downtown Atlanta and appeared to be trying to block traffic.

The Georgia State Patrol has responded.

Earlier, as the protest appeared more calm, Kaity Brackett, 27, said she came out to the protest because she thinks the entire criminal justice system needs to be overhauled, starting with policing. She said the Ahmaud Arbery killing was a catalyst for her and referred to his death as a lynching. Arbery was killed on Feb. 23 by a former district attorney investigator and his son, who were not arrested until after video emerged months later.

Related video: Protesters gather on Minneapolis highway

Brackett wore a blue mask and sat with her partner and a friend. She was less concerned about the threat from the coronavirus.

“We risk our lives going to the grocery store, going to get gas,” she said. “This is more important than all of that.”

AP Photo/Mike Stewart

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