DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson announced a comprehensive review of police actions during Saturday’s protest that led to eight arrests and the use of tear gas on demonstrators.

🔍 Why It Matters: The review comes after residents raised concerns about law enforcement’s response to protesters who tried to march toward an interstate ramp during the No Kings protest.

📋 What’s Happening:

  • Police reports, arrest records, body camera footage and drone video are being examined
  • Multiple agencies were involved including DeKalb County Police, Doraville Police, Chamblee Police and Georgia State Patrol
  • The protest was part of the 50501 Movement opposing military parades tied to the Army’s 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump’s birthday.

⚖️ Between the Lines: Cochran-Johnson said the county “will always uphold the right to peacefully protest” while maintaining responsibility for public safety. The review was requested by concerned citizens and aims for full transparency.

📊 The Numbers: Three separate protests happened across DeKalb County on Saturday. Two remained peaceful and cooperative. Only the Chamblee-Tucker Road demonstration resulted in arrests after police say protesters entered the roadway and ignored police orders to return to sidewalks.

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Before You Dismiss This Article…

We live in a time when information feels overwhelming, but here’s what hasn’t changed: facts exist whether they comfort us or not.

When A&W launched their third-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder in the 1980s, it failed spectacularly. Not because it tasted worse, but because customers thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If basic math can trip us up, imagine how easily we can misread complex news.

The press isn’t against you when it reports something you don’t want to hear. Reporters are thermometers, not the fever itself. They’re telling you what verified sources are saying, not taking sides. Good reporting should challenge you — that’s literally the job.

Next time a story makes you angry, pause. Ask yourself: What evidence backs this up? Am I reacting with my brain or my gut? What would actually change my mind? And most importantly, am I assuming bias just because the story doesn’t match what I hoped to hear.

Smart readers choose verified information over their own comfort zone.

Publisher at  – btclark@thegeorgiasun.com

B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.