USA: State of emergency in Georgia – Governor activates National Guard

Washington. After a weekend of numerous acts of violence and an eight-year-old shot dead in Atlanta, the governor of the US state of Georgia has activated the National Guard. Governor Brian Kemp has authorized the deployment of 1,000 soldiers, his office announced on Monday (local time).

This should put the police in a position to strengthen their patrols. Kemp also declared a state of emergency in Georgia. More than 30 people were shot wounded in Georgia over the past long holiday weekend. Five people were killed, including the eight-year-old girl.

The broadcaster CNN reported that last weekend – on which the United States celebrated Independence Day – a total of six children were shot dead: The eight-year-old in Atlanta, a girl of the same age in Hoover (Alabama), an eleven-year-old in the capital Washington, a seven-year-old and a 14-year-old in Chicago and a six-year-old in San Francisco.