Atlanta, GA
Protester arrested outside bank linked to Atlanta Public Safety Training Center
ATLANTA – One person was arrested after a protest outside a bank which demonstrators say loaned money to the Atlanta Police Foundation. It happened on West Peachtree Street near 17th Street. It’s the latest development in the long and bitter battle over a controversial $90 million Atlanta Public Safety Training Center which critics call “Cop City”. Protesters say police are trying to intimidate them. Police say protesters got out of hand.
Protesters shared video of their demonstration Wednesday morning outside Cadence Bank in Midtown. They say the bank loaned money to the Atlanta Police Foundation to help build the public safety training center.
Demonstrators left the property, but they say Atlanta police followed them.
“They literally grabbed one of the protesters and slammed them onto the ground and zip-tied them on the cement sidewalk,” said Oren Panovka, who helped organize the demonstration.
Video from protesters shows police handcuffing a person face down on the ground. Demonstrators say police detained two protesters and arrested another. Police say officers arrested 27-year-old Aidan Wood, from Lansing, Michigan, who was charged with obstruction and simple assault.
Panovka says he witnessed police manhandling ralliers. “I did see them grab and be rough with one protester,” Panovka said. “I was scared.”
Police say several protesters threw rotting meat at them. APD would not speak with FOX 5 on camera. They sent a statement reading some demonstrators “picked up the spoiled meat and threw it in the direction of police.”
Panovka says police are trying to intimidate protesters. “They were trying to scare us. They were trying to put fear into protesters,” Panovka said.
Protesters plan more rallies throughout the week.
In preparation, the Atlanta Police posted a notice on their Facebook page reading:
“The Atlanta Police Department respects, supports, and upholds the First Amendment rights of all citizens and those in Atlanta to assemble, speak, and engage in peaceful protest. At the same time, we must ensure compliance with our city ordinances and a safe public environment for all residents and visitors.
“This week, various groups have launched a ‘Week of Action,’ consisting of seven days of events, marches, and discussions. The first event was held Saturday in Brownwood Park in East Atlanta.
“We welcome the care and concern of the organizers for our city and their efforts to open dialogue and raise community awareness about the center. We respectfully ask all who engage in ‘Week of Action’ events to abide by the same city regulations for a peaceful and welcoming atmosphere for all persons wishing to enjoy the city’s greenspaces and public areas this week.
“As a reminder, City of Atlanta parks are open daily from 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. All gatherings over 75 people require a permit. Events or gatherings with alcohol and vending require a permit from the Mayor’s Office of Special Events. We also want to note that smoking, drugs, and illegal substances are strictly prohibited in the City of Atlanta parks. For the safety of park visitors, please abide by the above-mentioned and all city ordinances and note it is illegal to deface or destroy public property.”
Atlanta, GA
Some Metro Atlanta Starbucks employees go on strike amid the holidays
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – You may experience order delays if you are headed to a Starbucks on Christmas Eve. Some workers in Metro Atlanta are on strike.
Representatives with Starbucks Workers United tell Atlanta News First they feel underpaid and understaffed and are protesting the lack of progress in contract negotiation with the company.
Starbucks union workers in Alpharetta are making their voices heard loud and clear. They allege unfair labor practices.
“When Starbucks workers first started to unionize, they gave non-union workers pay raises and the partners that were unionized didn’t get that until later and so they’re owed back pay,” said Danielle Stolton, Shift supervisor at the Alpharetta store.
Stolton said she has been a part of the bargaining process.
“Personally, last year was the worst year,” she said. “I had a mental breakdown, actually.”
Stolton and others planned this one-day strike to stand in solidarity with over 5,000 workers at more than 300 stores that are protesting.
Strikes have been going on in some places since last Friday. Some baristas said they want better pay and better benefits.
“I know baristas in my store personally who are having to choose between gas or groceries so when you see problems like that it’s really hard to not feel some type of way about the fact that Starbucks made 24 billion dollars in profit this year, two percent more than last year and we’re still seeing two percent pay raises,” said Vivek G, a Starbucks employee.
Starbucks Workers United said the company failed to honor a commitment made in February.
In a statement to Atlanta News First, Starbucks said:
“Only around 170 Starbucks stores did not open as planned. With over 10,000 company-operated stores, 98% of our stores and nearly 200,000 green apron partners continuing to operate and serve customers during the holidays,” the coffeechain added.
Some workers feel differently.
“It’s just basic living wages and also again to reiterate is just to have. We’re asking for minimum staffing and realistic expectations and just the ability to run our floors and run our stores in a way that makes the most sense. They say they want to hear us, they say they want to listen but every time we ask for help, we get told no,” Stolton said.
Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta’s Defense Stifles Minnesota in the 4th Quarter Of 117-104 Win to Snap Three-Game Losing Streak
Atlanta is going to head into the Holiday Season with a win.
Atlanta had hit a rough patch since their run in the NBA Cup, losing three straight, including a blowout loss on Saturday night vs Memphis. It was not a do or die situation vs Minnesota, but the Hawks could have used a good win and they got it tonight against the Timberwolves.
The Hawks got the win tonight behind three terrific performances from Trae Young, Garrison Matthews, and Dyson Daniels. Young finished with 29 points and seven assists on 8-15 shooting, Daniels had a career high eight steals to go along with 10 points, and Matthews hit a career high seven threes and finished with 25 points. It was tremendous to see Matthews, who had not played much at all lately, be ready for the moment in a big win for the Hawks.
They were not the only reasons the Hawks won though. Jalen Johnson flirted with a triple double, finishing with 17 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists and De’Andre Hunter scored 19 off the bench.
This was a fantastic win for Atlanta that was sprearheaded by their defense and three point shooting. Despite 21 turnovers, Atlanta found a way 53% from the floor and 50% (18-36) from three tonight. For a team that has struggled to shoot the ball, it was good to see the Hawks perform well on that end of the floor.
Up next for the Hawks are an important two games against Chicago and Miami. Both are at home and with both teams near the Hawks in the standings, it would be huge if the Hawks could get a pair of wins before they go on their long road trip.
With Young available to play, the Hawks went with their usual starting lineup of Young, Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, Jalen Johnson, and Clint Capela.
Minnesota stuck with thier normal starting lineup of Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, and Rudy Gobert.
The first quarter could not have much better for the Hawks. Their defense was really strong to start and Young looked great in his return to the court. He scored 10 quick point and the Hawks shot 63% from the floor early on and led Minnesota 21-9. Edwards was doing everything for the Wolves early in the game, scoring seven of their first nine points, but overall, Minnesota was shooting 24% from the floor and 9% from three.
With Bogdanovic and Okongwu still out, the Hawks turned to Larry Nance, Vit Krejci, De’Andre Hunter, and Garrison Matthews off the bench. It had been some time since Matthews had meaningful minutes, but he made the most of his minutes in the first half. The Hawks led 35-19 after the first quarter and were shooting 68% from the floor, including 7-11 from three and 12 points and four assists from Young.
Then the second quarter happened.
It was the complete opposite for the Hawks in the second quarter. Minnesota started the quarter on an 18-5 run and cut the lead to 40-37 when Snyder called a timeout to try and halt the Wolves run. The Hawks shooting had ground to a halt in the second quarter while the bench for Minnesota outscored the entire Hawks team in the second quarter 20-17. Aside from Matthews going 3-3 from deep, the Hawks shot a dismal 24% from the floor and 25% from three in the second quarter and a game they once led by 19 turned into a Minnesota lead at halftime after a Mike Conley shot just beat the buzzer. Minnesota shot 54% from the floor and 57% from three in the second quarter and outscored the Hawks 36-17 and led 55-52 at the half. Young had 16 points and five assists, while Matthews had 15 points on 5-5 shooting from three. Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Wolves with 11 each.
It was a back-and-forth third quarter between the two teams. Hunter and Risacher scored five points each at the start of the quarter, but Atlanta continued to have problems with turnovers and Atlanta could not get out in front. At the end of the quarter though, Matthews found Johnson for a basket right before the end of the quarter that ended up being one of many highlights for him on the night.
The Wolves maintained a three-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, but that is where the Hawks won the game.
The Hawks have made it a point to win games with their defense this season and they did it again tonight. While the Hawks went 6-7 from three and shot 59% from the field, they held Minnesota to 39% from the field and 13% (1-8) from three in the fourth quarter. Matthews continued to have the best shooting night of his career and Daniels was a menace on the defensive end of the floor. The Hawks outscored the TImberwolves 35-19 in the fourth quarter (20 points from the bench) and led by as many as 17 in the 4th to seal a win and move to 15-15 this season.
Atlanta, GA
Large Atlanta building fire shuts down all eastbound lanes at I-20 exit
ATLANTA – All lanes on I-20 eastbound are currently closed at the exit to State Route 139/Martin Luther King Jr. Drive due to a building fire, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.
A large fire broke out near the Texaco gas station across from Westview Cemetery on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Monday night.
It’s not clear what caused the fire. FOX 5 Atlanta sent a crew to the scene to gather more information. The flames were out before 10:15 p.m.
Atlanta Fire Rescue Department battled a large building fire on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive the night of Dec. 23, 2024.
This story is developing. Check back for details. If you have additional information, pictures, or video email newstipsatlanta@fox.com.
The Source: This preliminary information was reported by the Georgia Department of Transportation and a large FOX 5 Atlanta crew.
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