Animal welfare advocates in Atlanta have called on Governor Kemp to create an animal cruelty task force. Activists organized the protest following the arrest of a man charged with animal cruelty. The activists hope this task force will help curb violence against animals.
Animal Welfare Advocates Call for Animal Cruelty Task Force
“I want animals to matter,” says Grace Hamlin of W-Underdogs. W-Underdogs is a nonprofit organization dedicated to animal welfare. “I want people to understand we’re not just crazy dog advocates, animal advocates. We’re actually fighting for our communities, for safer places for everybody to live.”
Activists say too many animals are suffering or dying due to violence and abuse. The protest comes after the arrest of Mekhi Jackson last Saturday. Dekalb County Police arrested Jackson after a video went viral on social media. A doorbell camera recorded the incident. Footage shows Jackson violently beating a dog and throwing it against a wall at an apartment complex. The dog repeatedly tries to escape.
Advocates Organize Protest After Disturbing Video Goes Viral
Tragically, the dog died from their injuries. The case prompted activists to organize a protest, calling on government intervention. Many of the protestors feel that there has not been enough action from the government to prevent animal abuse. The animal welfare community renamed the dog Justice. At the protest, activists hold signs and chant, “Justice for Justice!”
Reporters spoke with protestors who are calling on Governor Kemp to create an animal cruelty task force to address violence against animals. “The only thing I could think was how many other animals may be going through this. These things should never happen,” one protestor said. “Watching an animal be slapped, punched, thrown against a wall, if they do that to an animal they might be doing that to a child or their significant other.”
Protestors hope to bring a larger awareness to the community. They encourage people to remain vigilant and encourage immediate reporting of suspicious behavior.
