In Georgia, protesters clash with Athens mayor over immigration following student murder at UGA
Protesters in Georgia disrupted a news conference Wednesday morning as Athens Mayor Kelly Girtz defended the city's policies aimed at limiting cooperation with federal authorities enforcing immigration enforcement actions.
Protesters in Georgia disrupted a news conference Wednesday morning as Athens Mayor Kelly Girtz defended the city's policies aimed at limiting cooperation with federal authorities enforcing immigration enforcement actions.
Tensions over such practices, sometimes deemed as “sanctuary” policies, started rising last week after the suspect in the slaying of nursing student Laken Riley was revealed to be an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela.
Protesters called for the mayor's resignation and accused him of being "a liar" and having "blood on your hands for this murder." They also shouted "invasion" and "this is America."
Protesters at Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz' news conference Wednesday.Joshua L. Jones / USA Today NetworkWith Athens increasingly becoming an immigration flashpoint, Girtz warned "against conflating immigration and crime."
"Responsibility for this crime rests solely on the perpetrator," the mayor, a Democrat, said in relation to Riley's killing.
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