ATLANTA (AP) - The Latest on demonstrations planned to protest the president’s visit to Atlanta for the College Football Playoff title game (all times local):
6:50 p.m.
A few dozen protesters have taken a knee and spoken out against President Donald Trump, just ahead of the College Football Playoff title game.
The small crowd gathered on a downtown sidewalk chanting that black lives matter, women’s lives matter and immigrants’ lives matter. Three of them carried a sign that said, “The Trump-Pence Machine Must Go.”
At least two groups had protests planned near to the time of Trump’s arrival at the stadium for the game between the University of Alabama and the University of Georgia.
The NAACP Atlanta branch urged people to wear white and wave white towels when the president enters or is mentioned.
The NAACP also planned a “Twitter storm” to begin at 6 p.m. and continue through the game to highlight what they say are lies told by the president.
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4:15 p.m.
Fans milled around in a cold drizzle outside the stadium in downtown Atlanta before Monday night’s College Football Playoff title game, but there were no anti-Trump protesters in sight.
At least two groups had protests planned for later in the day, closer to the time of President Donald Trump’s arrival at the stadium for the game between the University of Alabama and the University of Georgia.
The NAACP Atlanta branch urged people to wear white and wave white towels when the president enters or is mentioned. The white is meant to mock the “snowflake” label Trump’s supporters use to describe those who oppose the president.
The NAACP also planned a “Twitter storm” to begin at 6 p.m. and continue through the game to highlight what they say are lies told by the president.
Another group, Refuse Fascism ATL, said it was planning a demonstration outside CNN’s world headquarters near Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The group plans to “take a knee” there at 6:30 p.m.
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11:15 a.m.
The scene was relatively quiet Monday morning outside the stadium in downtown Atlanta where the College Football Playoff title game was set to be played, with some fans milling about but no anti-Trump protesters in sight.
NAACP Atlanta branch President Richard Rose said the group is urging people to wear white to the game and to wave white towels when President Donald Trump enters the stadium for the game. The white is meant to mock the “snowflake” label Trump’s supporters use to describe their opponents.
The NAACP also planned a “Twitter storm” to begin at 6 p.m. and continue through the game to highlight what they say are lies told by the president.
Another group, Refuse Fascism ATL, said it was planning a demonstration outside CNN’s world headquarters near Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The group plans to “take a knee” there at 6:30 p.m.
Atlanta police have said they will set up several designated areas for protesters and won’t interfere with demonstrations unless protesters break the law. Local, state and federal law enforcement authorities said last week that they’ve worked for months to develop security plans for the game.
6:15 a.m.
The NAACP is urging people to wear white and hold anti-Trump signs on Monday. Another group says demonstrators will “take a knee” before the big game to protest President Donald Trump’s visit to Atlanta.
Atlanta police say they worked with the Secret Service on preparations for months before the College Football Championship game between Alabama and Georgia.
The NAACP said Sunday that wearing white is meant to mock the “snowflake” label Trump’s supporters use to describe their opponents.
Another group, Refuse Fascism ATL, says that before kickoff, they’ll “take a knee against Trump” outside CNN’s world headquarters, in solidarity with athletes who have knelt during the national anthem to protest racial injustice.
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