“Pray that today it gets better" Volunteers help pick up pieces from Atlanta protests

ATLANTA — The recovery is just beginning in downtown Atlanta, where protests turned violent Friday night as some people set fires, broke windows and looted businesses and restaurants.

Channel 2′s Steve Gehlbach has been out on Marietta Street all morning near the epicenter of the violence.

Now the focus is on cleanup efforts. The chants of protests, smashing glass and smoke from fires replaced in downtown by the hum of city workers and volunteers.

People came out to literally start picking up the pieces, bringing brooms and garbage bags to do their part.

“We want to help in anyway we can, be supportive,” a volunteer said.

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Gehlbach also found someone from the mayor’s office working to clean up the city after watching the destruction from afar.

“Last night does not represent the best of Atlanta," said Reese McCranie, deputy chief equity officer for the mayor’s office. “So I wanted to come to see the damage first hand and I saw small group of volunteers and really just wanted to help out.”

National Guard soldiers, who were deployed by Gov. Brian Kemp around midnight, kept a watchful eye all morning.

“They out here still trying to be as peaceful as they can," Atlanta native Oliver Mathews said. "Can’t stress it enough, we gotta get better y’all.”

“I pray for everybody. I pray for Atlanta right now and pray that today it gets better," he said.

RAW VIDEO: NewsChopper 2 flies over downtown Atlanta damage Peaceful protests took a violent turn Friday night near the CNN Center and Centennial Olympic Park.

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