The march was held to condemn the recent events in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a car crashed into a crowd of protesters against a white supremacist march.
The anti-violence rally gathered several thousands of people. They marched through the streets cleared for them by the police. “We’re trying to keep it non-violent," said protester Veronica Boykin. "That’s the goal,” 11Alive reports.
When the march approached at the Peace Monument in Piedmont Park, unidentified people from the crowd climbed onto the monument and defaced it with red spray paint. They tried to dismantle the statue with chains, but the police stopped them.
Several protesters changed: “Tear it down,” while many in the crowd began to disperse, showing no sign of support. Some demonstrators argued the monument is a symbol of the confederacy.
Earlier in Virginia, a car plowed into a crowd of protesters against a white nationalist rally, during which far-right demonstrators had clashes with counter-protesters and police. One person was killed, 19 were injured. The driver was arrested.
Flowers and candles placed on 4th St NE where Heather Heyer was struck and killed @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/6RMVk3a8Di
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) August 13, 2017
The anti-violence march in Atlanta was organised to support non-violence protests in connection with the Virginia tragedy.
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