Atlanta, GA

College Students Tased By Atlanta Police During George Floyd Protests To Get $2 MIllion Settlement | Essence

Published

2 days ago

July 3, 2024

College Students Tased By Atlanta Police During George Floyd Protests To Get $2 MIllion Settlement | Essence

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JUNE 17: Taniyah Pilgrim (L) and Messiah Youngas listen to Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. announce 11 charges against former Atlanta Police Officer Garrett Rolfe on June 17, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. Rolfe is charged with felony murder of Rayshard Brooks, 27, on June 12 while chasing Brooks after a struggle during a field sobriety test in a Wendy’s restaurants parking lot. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Two Atlanta college students have received a $2 million settlement stemming from a lawsuit they filed after being tased and pulled from their car while they were stuck in traffic during a George Floyd protest in 2020, according to the AP.

Messiah Young and Taniyah Pilgrim filed the lawsuit in June 2021, arguing that the police had no cause to pull them from their car and shock them. Video of the May 30, 2020, incident went viral, and immediate action was taken by then-Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and then-Police Chief Erica Shields, who fired two of the police officers and placed three others on desk duty.

Police body cam footage released following the clash showed a young man saying he hadn’t done anything and pleading with officers to release him as they placed him under arrest during a traffic jam.

Young, who was sitting in the driver’s seat of his car at the time, appeared to be filming the incident. The officers approached his car and yanked open the door. Young closed the door and told the officers to let the young man in custody go and let him get into his car.

Young then attempted to drive away but got stuck in traffic, and the officers ran up to both sides of the car, shouting demands. Pilgrim, who was in the passenger seat, tried to leave the vehicle, but at that point, officers tased her and pulled her from the car.

The scene escalated as police ordered Young to put the car in park and open the window. He refused, and the officers started trying to break the driver’s side window with a baton. They finally broke the window and tased Young and violently got him out of the car.

In the footage, police were also heard shouting, “Get your hand out of your pockets,” and, “He got a gun. He got a gun. He got a gun.” Young was then placed under arrest. However, no gun was ever found.

The settlement with the city of Atlanta comes after the two officers who were fired were reinstated, and the six officers involved in the case were cleared of any charges. At the time of the 2022 ruling, the Cherokee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Samir Patel explained that the officers’ actions were justified given the law. “Not only was law enforcement acting within the scope of their legal authority in their actions to obtain compliance, but their actions were also largely consistent with the Atlanta Police Department’s own use of force policy.”

In reaching the settlement, the Atlanta City Council, which approved the payout, was careful to say that it was not an admission of liability. However, Pilgrim’s lawyers, Dianna Lee, L. Chris Stewart, and Justin Miller, said in a statement to the AP, “This case has been a roller coaster of emotions for two innocent college students who were the victims of unjustifiable excessive force by officers of the APD.”

Young’s lawyer, Mawuli Davis, echoed the sentiment, “The resolution of the civil case will allow these young people and their families to continue healing from this traumatic experience,” Davis continued, “It is important for them to help the community to remember that the fight to prevent police brutality continues.”

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Atlanta, GA

Braves News: NL East clash, Giants claim series in Atlanta, and more

Published

6 hours ago

July 5, 2024

Press Room

Braves News: NL East clash, Giants claim series in Atlanta, and more

After a series loss at Truist Park, the Atlanta Braves gear up to host the division rival Philadelphia Phillies for a three game set beginning tonight at 7:20 ET. The Braves enter the series at 47-38. The Phillies, however, enter play at 57-30 and have a nine-game lead over the East.

Max Fried, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Reynaldo López are each penciled in to start against Aaron Nola, Ranger Suárez, and Michael Mercado.

This series will wrap up the long homestand before the Braves head out West to end the first half.

More Braves News:

The Braves dropped the series finale to the San Francisco Giants 4-2. Chris Sale’s dominance and a quiet offense headline the takeaways from the series loss.

Orlando Arcia was out once again due to a tooth infection and is questionable for the upcoming series.

Our 2024 draft preview series continues with third basemen.

Dylan Lee is back in midseason form, and he’s been an underrated piece of the 2024 bullpen success.

Eli White had a ridiculous Wednesday in Triple–A with two homers and two doubles. More in the minor league recap.

Justin Toscano of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution highlights the Braves’ trends when opponents score four or more runs.

MLB News:

The Philadelphia Phillies top the AJC’s latest power rankings.

The Washington Nationals selected the contract of Juan Yepez, who will likely see some time at first base after the club optioned Joey Meneses.

The New York Mets released outfielder Trayce Thompson, per the transaction log. The 33-year-old joined the Mets on a minor league deal during the offseason.

The Pittsburgh Pirates placed right-hander Jared Jones on the 15-day injured list with a right lat strain. Jones exited his start on Wednesday after five innings and 78 pitches.

The Miami Marlins selected the contract of right-hander Matt Andriese, who will take Tim Anderson’s spot on the 40-man roster.

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Atlanta, GA

Source: Atlanta Braves Top Prospect on the Move

Published

13 hours ago

July 4, 2024

Press Room

Source: Atlanta Braves Top Prospect on the Move

The Atlanta Braves are in the process of getting a slew of arms healthy for the big-league club. However, it’s not just the likes of Ian Anderson and AJ Smith Shawver that are working back to full strength, former 2022 first-round pick JR Ritchie will begin his rehab assignment this week as well according to a source.

Ritchie is scheduled to pack his bags for the Braves’ Single-A affiliate August GreenJackets, a source told BravesSI. The GreenJackets have been in the news recently, because that’s where Anderson got a start this week.

The plan now is for Anderson to start on Saturday night in Augusta, and then Ritchie will take his place on the roster as Anderson takes the next step towards getting back to Atlanta. Anderson was strong in his third-rehab start and appears ready to move at least one step up the Braves’ ladder.

Ritchie underwent Tommy John surgery in May of 2023. He was throwing partners with Anderson as they were on similar timetables with the same injury.

He’s made three appearances with the FCL Braves including July 4th. He hadn’t allowed an earned run in his previous-two appearances, but was roughed up by the FCL Pirates in 2.1 innings for five-earned runs on Thursday. Ritchie walked three batters, but he also struck out four of his nine outs.

The Braves liked what they saw from Ritchie enough to move him to Augusta where he should get a start next week.

Ritchie was the 35th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, and celebrated his 21st birthday last week.

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Atlanta, GA

Good Day Atlanta viewer information: July 4, 2024

Published

20 hours ago

July 4, 2024

Press Room

ATLANTA – Featured guests and segments on Good Day Atlanta:

Stars talk new comedy ‘Space Cadet’

The new fish-out-of-water comedy ‘Space Cadet’ stars Emma Roberts as an aspiring astronaut and Poppy Liu as her too-supportive best friend. The stars joined Paul Milliken to chat about the movie, costumes, and karaoke.

Emma Roberts stars in “Space Cadet”: In the grand tradition of fish-out-of-water comedies like “Private Benjamin” and “Legally Blonde” comes the new Prime Video release “Space Cadet,” starring Emma Roberts as a young woman reaching for the stars … literally.

Written and directed by Liz W. Garcia, “Space Cadet” stars Roberts as wannabe astronaut Tiffany “Rex” Simpson, whose plans for space travel were grounded when she was forced to skip out on a full-ride scholarship to Georgia Tech. Years later, aided by her a-little-too-supportive best friend Nadine (played by the hilarious Poppy Liu), Rex ends up at NASA’s astronaut training program — where she’s not about to let a little thing like fake credentials stop her from blasting off into space!

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Fourth of July fireworks safety

Whether you plan on setting off your own fireworks or are attending someone else’s celebration, safety should be your top priority. Before you light up the sky, Jeff Brandenburg has some advice for you.

Fourth of July fireworks safety: Whether you plan on setting off your own fireworks or are attending someone else’s celebration, safety should be your top priority. Before you light up the sky, Jeff Brandenburg has some advice for you.

Chef Jernard Wells makes Fourth of July nachos

Chef Jernard Wells knows how to put the ‘soul’ in soul food, and he’s celebrating the Fourth of July with some amazing red, white, and blue nachos.

Chef Jernard Wells cooks up some Fourth of July nachos: Chef Jernard Wells knows how to put the “soul” in soul food, and he’s celebrating the Fourth of July with some amazing red, white, and blue nachos.

Alfonso Ribeiro hosts ‘A Capitol Fourth’

The Capitol Building will be lit up in red, white, and blue fireworks for the annual A Capitol Fourth celebration. TV legend Alfonso Ribeiro is hosting this year, and he chatted with Eric Perry about the music, spectacle, and special focus of today’s broadcast.

Alfonso Ribeiro hosts ‘A Capitol Fourth’: The Capitol Building will be lit up in red, white, and blue fireworks for the annual “A Capitol Fourth” celebration. TV legend Alfonso Ribeiro is hosting this year, and he chatted with Eric Perry about the music, spectacle, and special focus of today’s broadcast.

The undersea thrills of 2024’s Shark Week

Discovery Channel is bringing some of the most intense and incredible underwater encounters you’ll ever see in this year’s Shark Week. Natalie McCann got a chance to hear how shark experts Dr. Austin Gallagher and Liv Dixon are going on these dangerous deep-sea expeditions.

Discovery Channel Shark Week 2024: Discovery Channel is bringing some of the most intense and incredible underwater encounters you’ll ever see on this year’s Shark Week. Natalie McCann got a chance to hear how shark experts Dr. Austin Gallagher and Liv Dixon are going on these dangerous deep-sea expeditions.

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