ATLANTA — Demonstrations continue for the eighth day in a row across metro Atlanta, as part of a growing national movement in the wake of the death of yet another black American during an encounter with police.
The death of George Floyd, the Minnesota man who died after a Minneapolis Police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes while Floyd was handcuffed on the ground and called for help, sparked a wave of continuous protests across the United States, including here in Atlanta, as Americans from all walks of life denounced the officer's actions and demanded immediate changes to policing.
Centennial Olympic Park has been the hub of the largest of the demonstrations, but several others have sprung up across Atlanta's sprawling suburbs, from Johns Creek, to Dacula, to Cumming, Marietta and beyond.
Though the protests are now well past the chaos that unfolded last weekend, a curfew remains in effect for the City of Atlanta until dawn. It goes into effect tonight at 8 p.m., one hour earlier than past nights. (click here for the latest on this weekend's curfew)
For the last two nights, the protests in the city have ended without law enforcement having to use tear gas to clear the crowds at curfew, however, it's unclear how the earlier hour will have an impact.
11Alive will provide updates on the demonstration throughout the night, and will update this story as they develop.
Refresh this page often for the latest information.
9:03 p.m. - An Instagram live post shows a crowd of protesters marching down the BeltLine. Among them is Councilman Antonio Brown and rapper Lil Baby.
8:58 p.m. - A group of people have continued marching after curfew. 11Alive's SkyTracker was above them as they marched near Piedmont Park.
8:15 p.m. - 11Alive's Jon Shirek reports that police may be hearing of activity near Piedmont Park.
8:12 p.m. - National Guard troops are taking of their helmets, and riot police are putting down their shields.
8:09 p.m. - A female protester named Eva is asking those protesters remaining to got home, and calling them out by name.
8:08 p.m. - Police move forward without their shields, and are asking people to leave.
8:05 p.m. - Police and the National Guard are still standing by.
8:03 p.m. - The streets are already nearly clear, minutes after the 8 p.m. curfew.
7:59 p.m. - The National Guard reads the announcement of the curfew.
7:55 p.m. - Atlanta Police and National Guard begin to take their place along their skirmish line.
7:50 p.m. - Organizers are beginning to remind protesters of the time, as some begin to head away.
7:27 p.m. - A group of protesters has broken off and is now marching near the Georgia State University campus.
6:35 p.m. - Here is an angle from above.
6:24 p.m. - The crowd is growing larger and larger. They take a knee for 8 minutes and 36 seconds - the amount of time the Minneapolis officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd.
6:07 p.m. - Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms assures that anyone trying to vote, even after the curfew is in place, will be allowed to do so.
"I have instructed our police department not to enforce the curfew as it relates to people exercising their right to vote," she tweeted.
5:41 p.m. - 11Alive's Jon Shirek is near Centennial Olympic Park.
5:30 p.m. - A group of a few dozen people are protesting about a block away from Atlanta Police headquarters.
5:21 p.m. - MARTA operations are scheduled to run as usual tonight.
5:16 p.m. - Atlanta Police say that there have been 532 arrests made by the department since the Atlanta protests began on May 29.
5:15 p.m. - Protesters are asking to move the line further down Centennial Olympic Park to protest.
5:05 p.m. - Protesters sing Stevie Wonder's rendition of "Happy Birthday" in honor of Breonna Taylor, who would have turned 27 years old today. The Louisville EMT died after being shot several times while sleeping at her home after police fired into the residence during a raid.
5:04 p.m. - A drum line has arrived to the protests.
5:00 p.m. - Protests are already gathered near Centennial Olympic Park. There is a light law enforcement presence.
2:08 p.m. - Protests are being held in Cumming, Georgia.
1:00 p.m. - Healthcare workers take a knee outside of Grady Memorial Hospital in honor of George Floyd.
See more photos from the moment here.
Photos: Healthcare workers at Grady Memorial Hospital kneel in honor of George Floyd
11:38 a.m. - Interfaith leaders rallied at Liberty Plaza at the state Capitol and marched from City Hall. 11Alive's Nick Sturdivant covered the protest.
Watch live coverage of Day 8 of protests in metro Atlanta below.
