Georgia sends National Guard home from Atlanta protests

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) says the state of emergency that activated the National Guard will expire Monday night and members will no longer be needed to assist law enforcement in response to protests against police brutality. 

“I greatly appreciate the men and women of the Georgia National Guard, state and local law enforcement, and all first responders who kept Georgians safe and ensured peaceful demonstrations across our great state,” Kemp said in a statement.

“Moving forward, we will continue to monitor activity around the state and remain prepared to respond if necessary,” he added. 

My executive orders authorizing a State of Emergency & mobilizing @GeorgiaGuard to assist law enforcement with peaceful protests will expire at 11:59 PM tonight. Moving forward, we’ll continue to monitor activity & remain prepared to respond if necessary. https://t.co/vg6XcEPjc4

— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) June 8, 2020

The decision to remove the National Guard presence followed several days of peaceful protests in Atlanta, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 

Atlanta police made no arrests Friday, Saturday or Sunday, according to the newspaper, as demonstartions drawing thousands of activists continued in the city. 

Protests continued Monday, the 11th day of rallies in the city over the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis. Protesters were marching to the Fulton County jail on Monday afternoon carrying signs and chanting, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.