Groups call for indictment against former officer charged with killing unarmed man

ATLANTA — Several justice coalitions are calling for an indictment against an Atlanta police officer accused killing an unarmed man.

The groups gathered Friday afternoon outside the Fulton County Courthouse to call for peaceful protest ahead of a grand jury hearing for former officer James Burns.

Burns faces charges of murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and violation of his oath of office in connection with the June 22 shooting of 22-year-old Deravis Caine Rogers.

The organizers are calling for a murder indictment against Burns.

"Send a message to those grand jurors that we want an indictment," Gerald Griggs with the NAACP said.

Multiple community organizations are planning a 24-hour community protest beginning Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

"This is about police accountability and we the NAACP are demanding today, now, we're asking the entire community to come out just as you came out for the march," Griggs said.%

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Last month, Gov. Nathan Deal signed The Grand Jury Bill into law. It bans police officers who shoot and kill while on duty from sitting through the entire hearing.

"This will be the first case of many to test the new law, and we are satisfied at this point that things are progressing the correct way," Griggs said.

The groups organizing the protest are going to feed the homeless and educate the community on what their rights are.

Cox Media Group