Story and photos by Matthew McConnell, Viking Fusion Contributor
ATLANTA, Ga – Following two previous days of protests though downtown Atlanta, and across the nation, demonstrators continued to clash with police Sunday in downtown Atlanta. Throughout the city peaceful protests popped up, with the main gatherings centered around Centennial Olympic Park.
Despite many of the demonstrations being peaceful, demonstrations ended violently Sunday night with Atlanta Police, assisted by the Georgia National Guard and the Georgia State Patrol, launching smoke and tear gas at protestors as they enforced the 9 p.m. curfew that Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms put into effect.
Similar protests have sparked across the nation after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis when a police officer detained Floyd and had his knee on Floyd’s neck, where he could not breath and eventually died. Protests about Floyd, and the general mistreatment of African Americans by police have happened nationwide. Over eight cities across the US including Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia have placed curfews to limit nighttime violence.
May 31, 2020. Georgia State Patrol vehicles race through traffic in downtown Atlanta to get to protests happening after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN six days prior. Photo by Matthew McConnell 
May 31, 2020. Members of the Georgia National Guard stand along the border of Centennial Olympic Park after 2 days protests after the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer six days prior. Photo by Matthew McConnell 
May 31, 2020. Protestors block Centennial Olympic Park Dr. in downtown Atlanta to protest police brutality after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Photo by Matthew McConnell 
May 31, 2020. Protestors block Centennial Olympic Park Dr. in downtown Atlanta to protest police brutality after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Photo by Matthew McConnell 
May 31, 2020. Protestors rip down the fence surrounding a construction site in downtown Atlanta to protest police brutality after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Photo by Matthew McConnell 
May 31, 2020. Protestors block Centennial Olympic Park Dr. in downtown Atlanta to protest police brutality after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Photo by Matthew McConnell 
May 31, 2020. Atlanta Police Department officers in full riot gear hold back protestors from advancing further towards the CNN center in downtown Atlanta. Photo by Matthew McConnell 
May 31, 2020. Protestors fall back to a makeshift barrier after fireworks were thorwn into the crowd. Photo by Matthew McConnell 
May 31, 2020. Atlanta Police Department officers in full riot gear arrest a protestor after a clash in downtown Atlanta. Photo by Matthew McConnell 
May 31, 2020. A kid looks over the fence of a construction site watching as protestors clash with police in dwntown Atlanta. Photo by Matthew McConnell 
May 31, 2020. Protestors talk with members of the Atlanta Police Department in full riot gear after rocks and bottles were thrown in downtown Atlanta. Photo by Matthew McConnell. 
May 31, 2020. A peaceful protestor gives fistbumps to members of the Atlanta Police Department as they prevent protestors from pushing towards the CNN center in downtown Atlanta. Photo by Matthew McConnell. 
May 31, 2020. Protestors yell at members of the Atlanta Police Department in full riot gear after rocks and bottles were thrown in downtown Atlanta. Photo by Matthew McConnell. 
May 31, 2020. A protestor flips the middle finger at the Atlanta Police Department while they block the road to prevent protestors from approaching the CNN Center in downtown Atlanta. 
May 31, 2020. The Georgia National Guard forms a wall to push protestors after launching tear gas into the crowd of protestors right a the city’s curfew is set to go into effect. Photo by Matthew McConnell 
May 31, 2020. Members of the Georgia National Guard stand along the border of Centennial Olympic Park after 2 days protests after the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer six days prior. Photo by Matthew McConnell