Over 1K Signatures For Rayshard Brooks Peace Center In Atlanta

ATLANTA, GA — Community activists and the family of Rayshard Brooks — the Black man who was shot and killed in June by white Atlanta police officers — held a rally Saturday at City Hall. The group wants a peace center to be named after Brooks, reported WSB.

Brooks died June 12 after a confrontation in a Wendy's parking lot. He died from two gunshot wounds to the back that caused organ damage and blood loss, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner's office.

His death brought protesters to the site and the restaurant was burned down the next day.

In July, the city took down the memorial that was created to remember Brooks’ life. Protesters reacted the day to the removal of the memorial, saying it had become a safe space for those without a home.

On Saturday, the family and activists urged the city to allow them to negotiate with Wendy’s to bring the Rayshard Brooks Memorial and Peace Center to the site. More than 1,000 signatures of support have been collected so far.

According to the project’s website, the center would “commemorate” the life and death of Brooks to “keep his memory alive in the hearts and minds of all who fight this fight with us.”

The two white officers - former Officer Garrett Rolfe and Officer Devin Brosnan - had responded to calls about a man who was asleep at the wheel in the Wendy's drive-thru lane, later identified as Brooks. Police video showed him cooperating until a breath test determined his blood-alcohol level was over the legal limit and one of the officers moved to handcuff him. Brooks was wrestled to the ground, broke free and took off with a stun gun; Rolfe shot him as he tried to run away.

Rolfe was fired after video was shared of the fatal shooting and Brosnan is on administrative leave. Erika Shields stepped down as Atlanta's police chief amid the turmoil last weekend, as well.

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