Georgia Tech students protest public safety training center, beating of Tyre Nichols

ATLANTA — Student protesters gathered on the Georgia Tech campus Friday to call for change after troopers shot and killed an activist at the future site of the Atlanta public safety training center and in response to the death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis.

While Channel 2′s Audrey Washington was covering the protest on campus another Channel 2 Action News crew monitored police activity happening at the future site of the public safety center.

The protesters gathered on Tech’s green and called for justice.

Hundreds of Georgia Tech students protested the construction of the training center, specifically after an activist was killed at the site of the future center, last month.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said that the activist was shot and killed after he first fired at a state trooper.

While students held signs and marched Friday afternoon, Channel 2 Action News found a growing police presence at the future site of the training center.

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So far, there was no word of any suspicious activity at the site.

During the protest, students also called for police accountability following the death of Tyre Nichols.

The 29-year-old died after Memphis police officers beat him during a traffic stop.

“We have the power to disrupt these systems because we are the ones who are going to feed into them. It’s up to us to have these conversations and start a revolution,” protest organizer Samantha Bolton said.

Channel 2 Action News has been staying in contact with the police to find out why they stepped up their presence at the site in DeKalb County.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens told Washington last week that the site is clear of protesters and being patrolled by law enforcement.

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