Group says it vandalized businesses to protest gentrification

ATLANTA — Some southeast Atlanta business owners are vowing to step up security after anarchists took credit for recent acts of vandalism.

Vandals hit several businesses Thursday morning.

A local anarchist group said they vandalized the businesses to protest gentrification in Cabbagetown.

Jared Erickson owns the Brother Moto coffee shop on Memorial Drive and said he found white paint on his business. He said surveillance video shows vandals targeting his building.

"They didn't even know what we are," he said. "I don't think they know what they're doing in the long term."

TRENDING STORIES:

• 'Petite angel' steps into action to help reporter running errand for sick wife
• Disabled man says he was denied riding shopping cart at Walmart
• Family speaks out after mother killed in front of kids: 'He's a coward'

The owner of Sock Fancy, a retailer next door to Brother Moto, said the vandals shattered his windows.

"I think there are way more useful ways to protest and to get the word across," Stefan Lewinger said.

Treasie Beadle has attended Greater Mountain Missionary Baptist Church in Cabbagetown for nearly 50 years and said she has watched the neighborhood change.

"It's just a big change from the time we've been here," she said.

Other members said as the neighborhood changed, the congregation has shrunk.

"Since the newer, younger generation is here, they kind of pass us by," Sharon Mason said.

The church's pastor said vandalism sends the wrong message.

"More than likely that was people that weren't even part of this community," Kem Beadles said.

Erickson said he likes the community, but says the vandalism could be hard to ignore if it happened again.

"If we keep getting treated like this, it could push us out," he said.

The business owners said they filed police reports and the video has been turned over to police.

Cox Media Group