Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency and called upon members of the Georgia national guard in response to recent activist protests of police in Atlanta.
Hundreds of protesters opposed to the construction of an APD training center gathered at Underground Atlanta before moving down Peachtree St. in the heart of downtown Atlanta said WSB-TV.
The protests were led by a group called "Stop Cop City."
Several arrests were made.
Protesters also gathered in Atlanta on the same night in the wake of the death of environmental activist Tortuguita who was killed by authorities last week after officials said the 26-year-old shot a state trooper.
Tortuguita was killed Wednesday as authorities cleared a small group of protesters from the site of a planned Atlanta-area public safety training center that activists have dubbed “Cop City.”
The AP reports that masked activists dressed in all black threw rocks and lit fireworks in front of a skyscraper that houses the Atlanta Police Foundation, shattering large glass windows.
The Black motorist died three days after a confrontation with the officers during a traffic stop, records showed Thursday.
Protests over the death of Nichols are anticipated this weekend.