Last year in Atlanta, the police were called to look in on someone who had gotten drunk and fallen asleep in the drive-through lane of Wendy’s. That turned out to be Rayshard Brooks. After having a long, polite conversation with the officers, Brooks, who had been previously arrested for domestic violence, child cruelty, and credit card theft, attacked one of the officers, stole his taser, and ran away after the cops attempted to handcuff him.
The police gave chase and, as Brooks appeared to be turning to fire the taser, one of the officers fatally shot him.
This led to an angry mob burning the Wendy’s down and “occupying the area” for three weeks (among other general acts of rioting). Atlanta city officials allowed this to go on and there were terrible consequences to their decision. As the Washington Examiner reported:
Secoriea Turner was killed July 4, 2020, while she sat in a car near the Wendy’s restaurant where Brooks was shot to death June 12. The 27-year-old’s death sparked riots, protests, and looting episodes that saw demonstrators torch the burger chain and occupy the area around the rubble.
Her parents, Charmaine Turner and Secoriey Williamson, sued Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant, City Councilmember Joyce Sheperd, Wendy’s, and the company that operates the land where the restaurant once stood.
Officials failed to remove armed criminals who stood at the site for weeks on end, her parents alleged.
…Vigilantes patrolled the area, set up makeshift barricades, and directed traffic. Secoriea was shot dead after Julian Conley, 20, allegedly opened fire while he stood alongside several members of an armed group.
Although suing Wendy’s makes no sense (they’re victims here too), the city government deserves it. They allowed protestors to create a lawless autonomous zone within their city and someone died as a result of that. There are certain risks you take to live in a city, but losing your child’s life because the people in charge willfully decided to let thugs and liberal activists take over part of the city shouldn’t be one of them. The city of Atlanta’s deliberate lack of action led to the death of Secoriea Turner and yes, they should be held responsible for that.
John Hawkins is the author of 101 Things All Young Adults Should Know. You can find him on Parler here and on Twitter here.
