The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Protests, police have changed in Atlanta
Former Atlanta cop Trudy Nan Boyce was watching television on the Friday night that the anti-racism demonstrations roiling Minneapolis and other U.S. cities spread to Atlanta. It was a face-off between protesters and police, and she noticed a sea change from when she was in the front lines of the 1992 street disturbances.
“The front line of protesters were all white and the front line of officers were all black,” she said. “Someone was holding up a Black Lives Matter sign. I found that incredibly ironic.”
The dynamics have changed in the nearly three decades since crowds of metro Atlantans took to the streets to protest L.A. cops getting acquitted in the beating of Rodney King.
In 1992, the protesters were almost all black and were joined by a legion of freelancers bent on causing mayhem. If you were white and caught on the streets of downtown Atlanta, you had a good chance of being beaten. More than 40 people were hospitalized.
Groups rampaged through Underground Atlanta, breaking windows and overturning carts.
Joe Martin, who headed the earlier renovation of Underground, once told me that event helped spell the eventual doom of the shopping-and-en
tertainment attraction. “Underground never recovered,” he said.
The recent protests have created waves of looting and mayhem that have damaged property, but beatings have been relatively rare compared to 1992.
However, there is a tragic and reminiscent twist — the manager of Underground Atlanta was beaten on that Friday night by a crowd of young men who chased him down and pounded him into the pavement. Whether they were protesters or violent dirtbag opportunists is unknown. I’d put my money on the latter.
The difference in the protests this time is twofold:
■ We live in a much less-violent society. (I can almost hear some of you arguing, but crime today is HALF what it was in 1992).
■ The crowds are racially mixed, so there’s less of an us-against-them racial component on the streets.
Well, there’s still the us-against-them when it comes to the crowds and police, although that is somewhat tempered from the confrontations of years past.
The ubiquitousness of cellphones means that everything happening is instantly broadcast, which has quelled some police officers’ enthusiasm for harsh measures. Social media have also enabled protesters to get called together day after day after day.
The arrest rolls from the first few days bear out the crowd’s wide-ranging demographics. Nearly 500 people were arrested the first five days of the protests, mostly for curfew violations or “pedestrians in the roadway” charges. Of those arrested, 30% were white.
The theory trotted out by officials that outta-town troublemakers wreaked havoc is not necessarily borne out by the stats. About 10% of those arrested are from other states, about a third are from the city, and the rest largely come from the ’burbs.
Marcus Coleman, one of the organizers, said, “I have seen a swell of different races, specifically Caucasians joining this fight. This is organic and it is growing.”
Concerning the image of white protesters facing off against black cops, he said, “We have strategically put Caucasian comrades on the corners (of the crowds). The police take a different approach when there are white people on the front line.”
In a rally in front of City Hall early in the week, Coleman grabbed his bullhorn and shouted out demands: That cops live in the cities they police, that they are drug-tested, that there is increased de-escalation training and psychological evaluation.
One of the most distressing visual events of the protests is video — many videos, in fact — of Atlanta cops dragging two black college students from a car, tasing them, roughing them up and arresting them.
It occurred on the second night of the protests, a night during which police were determined not to have a repeat of the damage and looting of the previous night. So some cops overcompensated.
The students were caught in traffic and were talking with a friend on the street when the pedestrian was slammed to the pavement and an officer chased down the vehicle. Soon, the cop’s cohorts went to town breaking the car’s windows to get to the “suspects,” who were confused, shocked and terrified.
Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields quickly fired two of the officers. “We gave conflicting instructions; we didn’t allow the driver or passenger a chance to respond,” she said. “We created chaos and we escalated a lowlevel encounter into a space where we introduced violence. Once this occurs, we need to own it.”
Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard, who is in a bitter race for re-election, upped the ante and almost immediately charged six officers with crimes, five of them with serious felonies.
Shields then took aim at the DA, saying, “This does not mean for a moment that I will sit quietly by and watch our employees get swept up in the tsunami of political jockeying during an election year.”
Her response was extraordinary but understandable: She must keep the trust of her troops. But it’s a tightrope walk to win over the public and keep officers on your side.
One important note here: Five of the six cops charged are black — 60% of the Atlanta Police Department is African
American — so this was not a white-on-black situation. But it might go to Coleman’s thought that blacks more routinely get manhandled in these situations.
Policing has changed dramatically in the past three decades and even since 2014, when there were protests over the killing of an unarmed black man, Michael Brown, by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri.
And things are trending in a more positive direction in Atlanta.
“The biggest change is Chief Shields and to have a police chief who is willing
AMASON, Pauline
Age 94, of Dawsonville, passed June 5, 2020. McDonald and Son Funeral Home, Cumming, GA.
BRACKETT, James
James Everett Brackett, of
Flowery Branch, died peacefully on June 6, 2020, at the age of 91, due to complications from a stroke.
He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather with a strong faith, a kind word for everyone, and a positive outlook on life. He was preceded in death by his father, Paul Brackett, mother, Ethel Brackett and his sister, Katherine Darnell of Cumming, GA.
Everett was born in Cumming, Georgia on October 12, 1928 where he lived until he graduated from high school. He served his country in the Army, including a tour of duty in Germany before he was honorably discharged. Everett was employed at Cagle’s, Inc., in a variety of positions, for more than 50 years. In his spare time, Everett enjoyed working in his yard and growing vegetables in his garden. He always went out of his way to help people in need. His presence will be missed by all who knew him.
Everett is survived by his loving and loyal wife of 69 years, Evelyn. They were married on July 29, 1950 in Cumming, GA. They lived for many years in Lilburn, GA while raising their family. After retirement, Everett and Evelyn moved to Flowery Branch, GA where they enjoyed gardening and sharing the fruits of their labor with family and friends. Everett was a dedicated member of Christ Place Church.
Everett is also survived by his two children, Stephen Brackett of Bath, ME and Deborah Brackett of Buford, GA; three grandchildren, Elizabeth Day of Windham, ME, Katherine Brackett of Mount Pleasant, SC and Michael Brackett of New York, NY; two great grandchildren, Sam and Olivia who both reside in Windham, ME; and his sister, Irene McWhorter and her family of Cumming, GA.
A graveside service will be held on at Monday, June 8, at 1 PM, at Sawnee View Gardens, in Cumming, GA. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Monday the hour prior to the service.
Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory, 210 Ingram Ave, Cumming, GA 30040 is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be made at www.ingramfuneralhome.com.
BROWN, Sr., Michael
Mr. Michael Brown, Sr. of Riverdale, GA, passed away on June 3, 2020. Services entrusted to Murray Brothers Cascade Chapel, 404-349-3000 www.mbfh.com.
CANTRELL, Gregory C.
Age 57, of Catersville, passed June 4, 2020. Bellamy Funeral Home, Hiram, GA.
CARMICHEL, Edward
to admit when an officer is wrong,” said Dan Grossman, an attorney who has sued the city concerning police mistreatment. “That is a sea change. George Turner (Shield’s predecessor) would never admit an officer ever did anything wrong.
“It’s corrosive; it sends a message to officers that you have immunity,” Grossman said. “There was a top-down attitude that you guys are bulletproof.
“In general, things have gotten better, there’s a sense there will be accountability.”
Surrounded by loved ones, Edward (Eddie) Robert Carmichel passed away peacefully on May 25, 2020. He was 83 years old. Preceding him in death were his parents, Stefanie and Robert Carmichel. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Janice Carmichel; his daughters Debra Kasen (Michael), Lisa Hewitt (Gregory), and Lori Lasky (Michael); and his grandchildren Stefanie, Russell, Brad, Daniel, Josh, Sophie, and Anna. He cherished his titles as husband, daddy and Poppy. Eddie was born in Plattsburg, New York on September 18, 1936. He lived in several cities but spent the last 52 years as a resident of Atlanta. After serving in the Army, Eddie worked for AT&T for 30 years. He will be remembered for his charity work, his extensive bowling career, and his sense of humor. If laughter is truly the best medicine, he cured many people over the years! He will be truly missed by all who know and love him. A private funeral took place on May 27th at North Atlanta Memorial Park. Donations in Eddie’s memory can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Arrangements by Dressler’s Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
CARTER, Marian
Of East Point, passed June 5, 2020. Alfonso Dawson Mortuary, Atlanta, GA.
CLARK (DODD), Corine
Age 94, of Buford, passed June 4, 2020. Service June 7, 2 PM, at Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel, Buford, GA.
CULBERSON, Marion Lois
Marion Lois Culberson passed away surrounded by her loving family on Monday, May 25,
2020 at the age of 92. She is survived by her husband,
Gerald Wall Culberson. They were married 70 years.
She was born in Ludlow, KY, on
April 19, 1928 to Robert and
Elizabeth Harmon.
She met her husband when his family moved to Danville, KY in the 11th grade and they completed college at Centre College in Danville and were married immediately thereafter. They moved to Atlanta, GA where Gerald Culberson began an English teaching job which launched both of their careers in the education system in Atlanta. Lois went on to teach at various schools but earned many commendations for her sincere work at Coralwood Center School in Decatur, GA. Lois loved her students and teaching career but always put her role as mother of 4 sons as her primary and most important job and one in which she excelled. Additionally she was a long standing member of the Daughters of the American Revolution of the Buckhead Chapter and for many years she was the Conservation Chairman and specialized in reporting on various song birds in Georgia and held classes on the subject. She was highly complimented when her garden at home was designated by the Atlanta Audubon Society as a Wildlife Sanctuary.
She and her husband were members of Peachtree Presbyterian Church where for many years she taught Sunday School for young children.
She was always cheerful and positive and everyone loved being around Lois. She will be dearly missed by her husband, Gerald and 4 sons, Gerald Geoffrey, Gregory Harmon, Mark Wall and Timothy Young Culberson along with 12 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, all of whom live in the Atlanta area.
Her burial arrangements and memorial service will be announced in the coming weeks. Please visit www.asturner.com to share a memory and for future service details.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, www.cff.org/give-today.
DANHOF, David
David Jay Danhof, 56, born
January 31, 1964 in Grand
Rapids, MI, passed away May
28, 2020 in Atlanta, GA due to
COVID-19. He is survived by
Anne (Wood) Danhof and their daughters, Maggie (18) and
Allison (16), his parents, Calvin and Kathryn Danhof, and siblings, Bill (Julie) Danhof,
Elizabeth (David) Lock, Kathy
(Herve) Camelin, and nephews
Colton, Matt, Drew, Mitchell, Kevin, Jason and the Wood family in Georgia. David was a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School and Purdue University who settled in Atlanta to pursue a successful career in commercial real estate. Independent and driven from the very beginning, David lived his life with boundless energy. Loyal, loving and giving to his dear daughters, family, and vast group of friends, David was always quick to share a laugh, lend a hand, or be that shoulder to cry on for anyone who needed him. A man with a gentle soul and constant faith, David was an active member of the Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta and participated in multiple missions to Kenya where he installed water filtration systems. Having a passion for cars, David spent countless hours tinkering on his classic Porsches and served a number of years as a driving instructor at Road Atlanta and at the Porsche and Mercedes tracks in Atlanta and Birmingham. David enjoyed annual ski trips with friends, boating, and was a passionate supporter of college basketball, particularly Purdue. A small service will be held in Atlanta and a memorial service will be held this summer in Grand Rapids. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Peachtree Rd. United Methodist Church - Water for Kenya Project, 3180 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA or the Atlanta Humane Society, 981 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318.
DUFFY, Amanda
Amanda Paige Duffy, 46, of
East Allen Township, Pa., passed away Sunday, May 17,
2020, at the Hope Hospice facility in Allentown, Pa. She was the beloved wife of Kevin
P. Duffy, East Allen Township,
Pa., with whom she recently celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary. Born September
24, 1973 in Norwalk, Conn., she was raised in New Canaan,
Conn. and graduated from New Canaan High School in 1991. She later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Youth Ministry from Gordon College, Wenham, Mass., in May 1996 before serving as a mentor in a Big Brother, Big Sister program in Telluride, Colo. from 1998-2000. Her professional career included employment as an Associate Marketing Consultant/Caribbean Markets for iHeartMedia, Allentown, Pa. from 2012-2014; Open Platform Communications/Marketing Administrator for The Manhattan Club, New York, N.Y., 2011-2012; and Director of Operations for Tamera Le Marketing, Naples, Fla., 2002-2006. She was also co-owner of Level One Management, Killington, Vt., from 2006-2010. Amanda loved gardening, baking, drawing and painting, and was especially in her element during the Christmas season. She was a loving soul who bathed everyone around her in love, and enriched so many lives. She is survived by her husband, Kevin, East Allen Township, Pa.; sister Lisa (Robert) Murphy, Cumming, Ga.; brother John Peter R. Curcio, Alpharetta, Ga., and many friends who loved her very much. She was preceded in death by her father, August Rockwell Curcio, and her mother, Lynn Egan Bradford. A private service will be held in New Canaan, Conn., at a date yet to be determined. Arrangements have been entrusted to Cantelmi Long Funeral Home, 500 Linden Street, Bethlehem, Pa. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Lehigh Valley Health Network Cancer Center, Office of Philanthropy, PO Box 1883, Allentown, Pa. 18015.