Keisha Lance Bottoms Makes Emotionally Charged Appeal To Atlanta Protestors Following Riots: 'This Is Not A Protest'

More images from the CNN Center in downtown Atlanta, from photographer Ben Gray pic.twitter.com/7s8ItQuRYM

— Jennifer Brett (@Jennifer__Brett) May 29, 2020

My favorite scene from Atlanta #AtlantaRiots
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— Big Country (@chickfromdasouf) May 30, 2020

Multiple protests broke out in Atlanta last night in response to the murder of #GeorgeFloyd. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the citizens of Atlanta during this time. #BlackLivesMattter ???? pic.twitter.com/HGPLBQRzBG

— MEFeater Magazine (@mefeater) May 30, 2020

#BREAKING: Atlanta police confirm that some protesters have made their way to Buckhead and have looted the AT&T store across from Lenox Square: https://t.co/pcc4NclNk6
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— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) May 30, 2020

Rioters also made their way to the upscale Buckhead district, where they ran through the Phipps Plaza mall and torched restaurants. Police cars were set ablaze and some participants threw rocks and other debris at officers.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms condemned the rioting during a press conference on Friday night.

“This is not a protest,” Bottoms said. “This is not in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. This is chaos. A protest has purpose. When Dr. King was assassinated, we didn’t do this to our city. You are disgracing our city. You are disgracing the life of George Floyd and every other person who has been killed in this country.”

She also empathized with enraged citizens as the mother of Black children, per CNN.

"I am a mother to four black children in America, one of whom is 18 years old. And when I saw the murder of George Floyd, I hurt like a mother would hurt," Bottoms said. "And yesterday when I heard there were rumors about violent protests in Atlanta, I did what a mother would do, I called my son and I said, 'Where are you?' I said, 'I cannot protect you and black boys shouldn't be out today.'"

"So, you're not going to out-concern me and out-care about where we are in America," Bottoms added. "I wear this each and every day, and I pray over my children, each and every day."

Rapper Killer Mike also pleaded for peace alongside the mayor. 

“It is your duty not to burn your own house down for anger with an enemy,” he said through tears. “It is your duty to fortify your own house so that you may be a house of refuge in times of organization.”

He also encouraged Atl-iens to use their energy to be productive.

“If we lose Atlanta, what else we got? We lose an ability to plot, to plan, to strategize, to organize and to properly mobilize,” the “Kryptonite” rapper said. “I want you to go home. I want you to talk to 10 of your friends. I want you guys to come up with real solutions.”

It is unclear what changed on Friday night, but some attendees accused the Atlanta Police Department of inciting violence. Others blamed unruly white people who wanted to be destructive.

this is Atlanta before police showed up, you call this a riot? people just want to get their rights and go home this isn't a riot #BlackLivesMatter
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— Shru ???? BLM (@soft_dnp) May 30, 2020

Me and my homegirl decided it was time to dip cause ppl be hungry!! But as soon as we crossed the street, this happened. pic.twitter.com/fEYBX8aNEr

— hoekage ???? (@LizTHoward) May 29, 2020

The peaceful protest in Atlanta are already over & now the anarchist white kids have showed up to start a riot with the police. Don’t believe me? It is live in front of the CNN HQ. All the people throwing bottles & eggs at the police are white kids. Like 95%. Go home Chad. pic.twitter.com/BtsaTYGYFM

— John J. Cousens (@JohnJCousens) May 29, 2020

USA Today reports Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency on Saturday morning and deployed 500 members of the National Guard to restore order.