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Atlanta joins worldwide protests about Venezuela’s election

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Atlanta joins worldwide protests about Venezuela’s election


Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Atlanta on Saturday to protest how Venezuela’s authoritarian government is handling its July presidential election. 

Demonstrators across the world gathered this weekend to show support for Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who challenged Nicolas Maduro in the election. The Maduro administration says it won the election, but independent vote counts by opponents show otherwise. 

“We’re here because we hope everyone around the world will join us in our quest for freedom,” said Manuel Rodriguez. He’s from Venezuela and has lived in Atlanta for six years. “The people of Venezuela have spoken, and we don’t want Nicolas Maduro as president anymore. It’s as simple as that.” 

Woodruff Park filled with demonstrators, many with the bright yellow, blue and red Venezuelan flag draped over their shoulders or emblazoned on baseball caps. Hundreds chanted, “Libertad!” between speakers calling for a free Venezuela over a megaphone.

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“People in my country don’t even have the possibility to get healthcare, “Rodriguez said. “Why is that possible in the country with the largest oil reserves in the world?”

He said Venezuelans have fled to the U.S. in large numbers in recent years because of economic and social issues paired with the threat of political oppression for those who did not support the Maduro administration. 

These things prompted former President Donald Trump to pause deporting some Venezuelans because of the political unrest. 

The Biden administration then granted those fleeing Venezuela to the U.S. temporary protected status, protecting Venezuelans already in the U.S. from deportation or being detained by the Department of Homeland Security based on whether or not they have documentation outside of the temporary protected status. 

Some protesters in downtown Atlanta held body-length pieces of paper with vote tallies that show Urrutia won more votes than Maduro. Many other protesters held signs with various calls for democracy and help for the country.

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Erika Gomez had one of them.

“Imagine a country where you go to presidential elections and the government declares itself the winner, but the Electoral College refuses to publish results,” she said. “That’s what’s happening in Venezuela right now.

Gomez is from Venezuela and has lived in Atlanta for the last 20 years. She said the Maduro administration’s rejection of a democratic voting process is just the latest in a long line of decisions that have hurt her home country. 

“Extreme ways of government are not foreign to any country and no country is exempt from experiencing something like that,” she said. “Democracy is very fragile everywhere.”

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Atlanta, GA

4 passengers injured as hundreds evacuate Delta flight by emergency slide in Atlanta

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4 passengers injured as hundreds evacuate Delta flight by emergency slide in Atlanta


Hundreds of passengers were forced to evacuate a Delta airlines flight by emergency slides in snowy conditions Friday after an aborted takeoff in Atlanta — leading to at least four injuries and one hospitalization, authorities said.

Roughly 200 people hurriedly deplaned Minneapolis-bound flight 2668 on the tarmac at Atlanta International Airport at 9:10 a.m. due to an engine problem, airline officials said.

Footage posted on social media shows frazzled travelers, including children, running with their luggage from a Boeing 757-300 plane in several inches of snow, according to atlantanewsfirst.com.

Hundreds of passengers were forced to evacuate the flight by emergency slides in the snow. X/KarlenePetitt

Four passengers reported minor injuries and one was taken to the hospital, while the others were treated at the scene, the airport said.

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Details about the engine problems were not immediately clear.

Delta apologized to passengers for the nerve-wracking experience.


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Passengers deplaned by slide after the aborted takeoff. X/KarlenePetitt

“Delta’s flight crew followed established procedures to suspend the takeoff of flight…after an indication of an engine issue,” Delta said in a statement.

“Nothing is more important than the safety of our people and customers, and we apologize to our customers for their experience.”



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Atlanta, GA

Houston faces Atlanta on 3-game win streak

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Houston faces Atlanta on 3-game win streak


Houston Rockets (25-12, second in the Western Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (19-19, ninth in the Eastern Conference)

Atlanta; Saturday, 3 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Houston seeks to continue its three-game win streak with a victory over Atlanta.

The Hawks have gone 10-7 at home. Atlanta ranks third in the Eastern Conference with 17.5 fast break points per game led by Jalen Johnson averaging 3.6.

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The Rockets have gone 12-6 away from home. Houston averages 113.1 points and has outscored opponents by 6.0 points per game.

The Hawks’ 13.1 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.7 more made shots on average than the 12.4 per game the Rockets give up. The Hawks average 113.1 points per game, 6.7 fewer points than the 119.8 the Hawks give up to opponents.

TOP PERFORMERS: Johnson is averaging 19.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals for the Hawks.

Alperen Sengun is averaging 19.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and five assists for the Rockets.

LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 5-5, averaging 119.2 points, 41.2 rebounds, 30.5 assists, 11.2 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.5 points per game.

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Rockets: 7-3, averaging 113.7 points, 48.0 rebounds, 19.9 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.9 points.

INJURIES: Hawks: Kobe Bufkin: out for season (shoulder), Larry Nance Jr.: out (hand), Jalen Johnson: day to day (shoulder), Cody Zeller: day to day (personal).

Rockets: Tari Eason: day to day (injury management), Jabari Smith Jr.: out (hand).

——

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Copyright © 2025 ESPN Internet Ventures. All rights reserved.



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Atlanta, GA

MLS apologizes for falsely announcing Atlanta United transfer

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MLS apologizes for falsely announcing Atlanta United transfer


Major League Soccer apologized Thursday for publishing a story on its website that identified the wrong player as having transferred to one of its clubs, Atlanta United.

The league’s website, MLSSoccer.com, published a story Wednesday that falsely reported that Celtic FC and Japan forward Kyogo Furuhashi had been acquired by Atlanta. The article was quickly removed.

“Major League Soccer’s website mistakenly posted an article that named the wrong player as having signed with an MLS club,” the league said in a statement to The Athletic. “The article was immediately removed and corrected. MLS extends its sincere apologies to the impacted parties.”

The false report is no longer available, and the link now directs to an error message.

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The mistake appears linked to Atlanta’s transfer hint for another player, US-born Cayman Togashi, a former Japanese youth international who spent his entire professional career in Japan. Atlanta teased on social media the arrival of a Japanese player, fueling those rumors even more.

The club later announced it signed Togashi through the 2025 season with an option for 2026. The 31-year-old signed on a free transfer from Sagan Tosu in Japan’s top flight.

Last month, the Daily Mail reported that Atlanta submitted a $12 million bid for Furuhashi. The club also recently named Ronny Delia, a former Celtic manager, as its head coach. Around the time of the false report by MLS, Furuhashi played in Celtic’s 2-0 win against Dundee United, coming on as a substitute for Adam Idah in the 62nd minute.

(Photo: Craig Foy / SNS Group via Getty Images)



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