In response to Laken Riley's death, rally and vigil precede Athens commission meeting

Wayne Ford, Athens Banner-Herald
Updated ·2 min read

Under gray clouds that foretold a coming rain, two separate rallies gathered along College Avenue — one on the steps of City Hall and the other in the shadow of a banking institute — ahead of an Athens-Clarke County Commission meeting.

The "Make Athens Safe Again" rally and a "unity vigil" were organized in response to the slaying of nursing student Laken Riley. The former group, whose focus was a concern about illegal immigration, drew a large crowd, with many voicing frustrations about crime and some calling for the mayor to resign.

Riley was killed Feb. 22 when she took a morning jog on the University of Georgia campus. Jose Ibarra, an immigrant who was illegally in the U.S., has been charged with murder in her death.

Laurie Camp, a retired music teacher in Athens, organized the "Make Athens Safe Again" rally, which preceded a commission meeting with newly introduced safety measures on the agenda. Theses measures were highlighted by Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz at a contentious press conference last week.

More: Athens running community asking how best to move forward in wake of Laken Riley's murder

Rep. Houston Gaines criticizes District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez and speaks about the recent introduction of a bill that will, "that will finally provide oversight for prosecutors that aunt doing their job," during a "Make Athens Safe Again" demonstration at city hall in downtown Athens on Tuesday. Gaines also spoke about House Bill 1105 that will force local governments and force local sheriffs to comply with federal immigration authorities.

Camp, who brought several speakers, noted at the outstart that “our real enemy is not our commissioners. The real enemy is not our mayor. The real enemy is that many people are actually turned away from God.”

Local attorney Kevin Epps used the gathering to show what he considered the failures of District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez in her job to prosecute criminal cases.

A couple spoke who wrote a resolution that called for the immediate resignation of Girtz, which drew a loud applause.

A large crowd gathered to call for change and the resignation of Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz during a "Make Athens Safe Again" demonstration at city hall in downtown Athens on Tuesday. The demonstration was organized after the death of nursing student Laken Riley on the UGA campus.
A large crowd gathered to call for change and the resignation of Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz during a "Make Athens Safe Again" demonstration at city hall in downtown Athens on Tuesday. The demonstration was organized after the death of nursing student Laken Riley on the UGA campus.

Across the street at a vigil — organized by multiple groups including the n Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement-hosted, the Students for Socialism at UGA and the Party for Socialism and Liberation — UGA student Trey Holloway noted “there is a national spotlight on Athens. The entire country is looking at us. They are hearing messages coming out from both sides.”

At the vigil, one woman called for a moment of silence “to reflect on Laken, her family” and friends.

This group had described the “tragic, sexist killing” of Riley as becoming a right-wing political effort to attack immigration.

They were outnumbered almost two to one by the rally across the street.

On street corners, numerous officers from Athens-Clarke County and the Georgia State Patrol stood watching as the two rallies ended peacefully.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Laken Riley's death prompts rally, vigil at Athens City Hall