Thousands in Atlanta Protest Police Shootings

Atlanta, GA -- Thousands of protestors marched through downtown Atlanta Friday afternoon into early Saturday morning to protest recent police shootings.

The march came a day after a similar demonstration in Dallas was marred by a deadly sniper attack, in which five police officers were killed and seven others wounded.

The NAACP planned its "March For Justice" at Centennial Olympic Park beginning at 6 p.m.

As of about 4 p.m., protesters began gathering at the National Center For Civil and Human Rights.

Around 7 pm, the group reached an area of downtown near the interesection of Ivan Allen Boulvard and Williams Street, where they attempted to move onto the I-75/85 interchange.

A large law enforcement presence from the Atlanta police department and the Georgia State Patrol blocked the group, which led to a standoff of up to two hours. Crowds began to disperse after 9 pm.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed spoke with protestors during the march, urging them to stay off Atlanta interstates and remain peaceful.

However, tensions began rising again around 9:45, as protestors remained near Peachtree Street and International Boulevard.

The last of the protestors left the Williams Street around 3 am Saturday morning.

Reed also said that all flags at Atlanta City Hall will be flown at half-staff until sunrise on Monday, July 11, to honor the slain Dallas police officers.

Like the Dallas march, the one in Atlanta is a response to the recent police-involved shootings of Alton Sterling, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Philando Castile, in St. Paul, MN.