Georgia governor declares state of emergency, authorizes 1,000 National Guard troops to Atlanta

ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp has signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency and authorizing the call up of up to 1,000 National Guard troops in Georgia.

The troops will be deployed as needed to protect state buildings, including the state capitol, the Georgia Department of Public Safety headquarters, the governor’s mansion and the Georgia World Congress Center.

The goal, according to the governor’s office, is to free up state troopers from those locations so they can help patrol the streets of Atlanta.

Channel 2′s Richard Elliot just spoke with the governor’s office about the order.

“Peaceful protests were hijacked by criminals with a dangerous, destructive agenda. Now, innocent Georgians are being targeted, shot, and left for dead,” Kemp said Monday. “This lawlessness must be stopped and order restored in our capital city. I have declared a State of Emergency and called up the Georgia Guard because the safety of our citizens comes first. This measure will allow troops to protect state property and dispatch state law enforcement officers to patrol our streets. Enough with the tough talk. We must protect the lives and livelihoods of all Georgians.”

The order comes after a violent weekend across the city of Atlanta. Thirty-one people were shot in 11 incidents between Friday and Sunday. Five people, including an 8-year-old girl, died.

The Georgia State Patrol headquarters were also vandalized by protesters over the weekend.

Department of Public Safety officials told Channel 2 Action News that a group of 60 to 100 protesters dressed in dark clothing and masks came to the headquarters around 1:05 a.m.

“They were armed with bricks, landscaping bricks, Molotov cocktails, fireworks. Their one mission was to destruct property and that is exactly what they did,” Lt. Stephanie L. Stallings, spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Public Safety.

Cox Media Group