Mayor Keisha Bottoms earns praise for response over George Floyd’s protest in Atlanta [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms invoked Atlanta’s demeanor during Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in 1968 as an approach to mitigate the violent protests held at the city over George Floyd’s death.
• Bottoms’ approach to the protest was a test of leadership that resulted in a wide commendation from both Democrat and Republican officials.
• Bottoms is seen as a rising star within the Democratic congregation and was eyed as former Vice President Joe Biden’s running-mate for November elections.

As protests over George Floyd’s death continue to erupt in different parts of the country, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms of Atlanta invoked what happened in her hometown following Martin Luther King Jr.’s killing in 1968 as her way of mitigating the demonstrators.

“When Dr. King was assassinated, we didn’t do this to our city. If you care about this city, then go home,” Bottoms pleaded, as she approached the protesters on Friday night.

Atlanta, a city that prides itself as the birthplace of the civil rights movement, had protesters who had crushed police cars and vandalized CNN’s headquarters.

Bottoms, being a mother and a mayor, addressed the crowds: “I am a mother to four black children in America, one of whom is 18 years old. When I saw the murder of George Floyd, I hurt like a mother,” she said.

Bottoms said she called her son to find out where he was upon hearing the coming of protests.

“I said, “I cannot protect you and black boys shouldn’t be out today.”

 “You’re not going to out-concern me… about where we are in America. I wear this each and every day,” she emphasized.

Bottoms’ approached to maintain peace and order earned wide commendation as the protest became a test of leadership for the rising star Mayor.

Joe Biden’s campaign’s national press secretary, TJ Ducklo, said that apparent presidential democratic nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden “has been grateful for Mayor Bottoms’ support and counsel since the earliest days of our campaign.”

“Her passion, her empathy and her strong and steady leadership are shining through during this difficult moment, and the city of Atlanta is lucky to have her leading the way,” Ducklo said.

Georgia Representative Doug Collins, President Donald Trump’s Republican ally, said that Bottoms’ sent a powerful message.

During a recent interview with The Associated Press before the protest, Bottoms described Atlanta as a “special place where people of color are able to break traditional molds and change the landscape of who we are as a country.”

Bottoms, a 50-year-old black woman who previously served on the City Council, was elected mayor in 2017. Viewed as a rising star within the Democratic congregation, Bottom was eyed as Joe Biden’s running-mate for 2020 general elections.

Source: AOL.com