ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency Thursday, giving him the option of calling in the Georgia National Guard in response to a violent protest in downtown Atlanta over the killing by authorities of an environmental activist said to have shot a state trooper.
State of emergency declared over Atlanta 'Cop City' protest
![](https://statesboroherald.cdn-anvilcms.net/media/images/2023/01/28/images/protests.max-1200x675.jpg)
![A police officer blocks a downtown street following a protest, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Atlanta, in the wake of the death of an environmental activist killed after authorities said the 26-year-old shot a state trooper.](https://statesboroherald.cdn-anvilcms.net/media/images/2023/01/28/images/protests.max-752x423.jpg)
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