Last night — while the country’s attention was focused on the heavy-handed use of police force in Oakland, California against Occupy Oakland — Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed deployed police officers to raid and break up Occupy Atlanta.
“With helicopters hovering overhead,” the police moved in last night and arrested more than 50 demonstrators. Local news station Fox 5 was there at the scene when police arrived. Watch their video report:
State Sen. Vincent Fort (D) blasted Reed for his actions, saying that he ordered the crackdown at the behest of the business community:
State Sen. Vincent Fort was among those arrested. He had come to the park in support of the protesters in recent days. He said the police presence — which included SWAT teams in riot gear, dozens of officers on motorcycles and several on horseback — was “overkill.” “He’s using all these resources,” Fort said, referring to Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. “This is the most peaceful place in Georgia. At the urging of the business community, he’s moving people out. Shame on him.”
Occupy Atlanta plans to hold a press conference outside city hall at 11 a.m.
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