ATLANTA — Anti-Trump protesters took to the streets of Atlanta for a third night Friday, marching more than six hours across the city.
Unlike the past two nights, some protesters tried to make their way onto the downtown connector as they voiced their displeasure over this week's election of Republican billionaire Donald Trump as president.
Atlanta police told Channel 2’s Justin Wilfon they estimated the crowd at more than 1,000 people.
"We are fighting for a society where undocumented people are not torn apart from their families in the middle of the night,” protester Shannon Burn said.
Friday night’s group of protesters was the largest yet, with a smaller group first gathering in historic Old Fourth Ward Park, only to have more people join them as they marched through Atlanta streets.
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"I cannot believe that this has happened to our country. People have voted for hate,” Burn said.
As the growing number of protesters made their way toward downtown the police presence grew as well -- with Atlanta police and Georgia State Patrol troopers teaming up to follow the protesters down busy city streets, at several points blocking the protesters from marching onto the downtown connector.
"I'm out here tonight because I do (not) agree with any of the policies that Trump has presented," protester Anaya Wilson said.
NewsChopper 2 followed the protesters all night, capturing them burning what Atlanta police confirmed was an American flag outside the Georgia Capitol.
"Could you see yourself ever supporting President Trump?” Wilfon asked Wilson.
“As of now, no,” Wilson said. “Maybe two years from now, I'll see."
The GSP said it reworked shifts to have more troopers on duty Friday to handle very large crowd showing up to protest.
About 10 Atlanta Police cars are following the Trump protestors as they march near the Carter Center. pic.twitter.com/ZAc8klQwZA
— Justin Wilfon (@JustinWilfonWSB) November 12, 2016
LIVE: Protesters marching through Atlanta streetsWATCH LIVE: For the third night in a row, protesters are marching through the streets of Atlanta in opposition of President-elect Donald J. Trump. MORE: http://2wsb.tv/2epN72o Watch The Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat at 11 for a full report from the scene.
Posted by WSB-TV on Friday, November 11, 2016
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