Protest ends with tear gas, arrests near Embry Village Shopping Center
While tens of thousands of people across Georgia participated in localized, peaceful demonstrations and protests on June 14, one such gathering near the Embry Village Shopping Center close to Doraville led to eight arrests and the deployment of gas munitions on the crowd by law enforcement.
According to DeKalb County officials, protesters entered Chamblee Tucker Road and attempted to march toward the interstate ramp, “creating a dangerous situation for both demonstrators and motorists” during the planned protest.
“Officers issued multiple lawful commands for protesters to return to the sidewalk,” continued a news release from DeKalb County government. “When those commands were not followed, additional law enforcement support was called in, including the Georgia State Patrol and DeKalb County Police Department’s Tactical Response Team. To prevent further escalation and ensure public safety, gas munitions were deployed, and several arrests were made.”
By 5 p.m. on June 14, police confirmed at least eight arrests. However, the identities and charges of the arrestees were not available at press time.
DeKalb County officials stated they are “committed to protecting the constitutional rights of individuals to peacefully assemble and express their views, while emphasizing the importance of public safety and lawful behavior.”
“The right to protest is fundamental and respected in DeKalb County,” said CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson after the arrests. “But when a protest shifts from peaceful and law-abiding to one that threatens public safety and disregards lawful orders, I trust our officers to respond appropriately. Our duty is to protect both the rights of individuals and the wellbeing of the broader community.”
The arrests on June 14 follow at least six arrests from a protest on Buford Highway on June 10, during which Brookhaven police said a small group of people “threw fireworks and blunt objects, including rocks, at officers” as the protest was dissipating.
The demonstrations were attended by those standing in solidary with the people of Los Angeles, protesting deportations and ICE raids, and defending the basic right to freedom of assembly, according to protest organizers.
The June 14 protests, which occurred in Atlanta, Decatur, Tucker, and other locations throughout DeKalb County, were part of planned “No Kings” events that drew out millions across the nation voicing opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies and administration.
