Black Lives Matter activists met with Roswell officials before a protest was set to take place at the city hall.
The Black Lives Matter community was enraged after footage of a Roswell police officer breaking a woman’s jaw made its way to the public eye.
In the video by CBS 46, an African-American woman is seen being arrested by about 5 officers. The woman was dragged several feet before allegedly attempting to escape. A punch by Officer James Van Alstine can be depicted around the 1:01 mark.
The police told CBS 46 that the officers involved in the video had done no wrong since they “immediately de-escalated their use of force.”
However, the supposed de-escalation may have come a little too late, as her jaw was deemed broken by the doctors later on at the hospital due to the severe punch.
The awaited Black Lives Matter protest (organized by Black Lives Matter Greater Atlanta) demands the firing of Officer Van Alstine. It was scheduled to start at 6p.m. Monday; while the city council had their meeting at 7p.m.
Before the protest, though, a meeting to discuss peaceful resolutions was conducted by BLMGA and Roswell officials.
Nonetheless, the protest carried on.
“Tonight what we’re going to do is, we’re taking our issues – the issues of the black community, the issues of the Shanita Maeberry case – and we’re taking them right to the front doorsteps of city hall. We’re taking this case right to the doorstep of the mayor’s house,” chapter president Sir Maejor Page told the press. “We represent the community.”
Chapter Vice President Patrick Newbill adds that the purpose of the protest [tonight] is to “put a sense of urgency in officials.”
