Atlanta councilwoman to propose city-wide curfew for kids 17 and under

WSBTV.com News Staff
·2 min read
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An Atlanta city council member proposed a new city-wide curfew for children Monday.

Councilwoman Keisha Sean Waites said she plans to introduce the legislation that would enact a 7 p.m. curfew for kids 17 and under.

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Along with the curfew, the councilwoman said the legislation, if passed, would require any place in the city with patterns of violence to install cameras linked to the Atlanta Police Department.

The proposed legislation comes after 12-year-old Zyion Charles was shot and killed near Atlantic Station on Saturday night.

“Following the recent tragic death of a 12-year-old youth and the wounding of five others after a shooting at Atlantic Station over the holiday weekend and as our city closes in on 150 murders in the past 11 months, this senseless death of 12-year-old Zyion Charles has placed an exclamation point on the citywide cry for help,” Councilwoman Waites said. “I believe that much of the violence in our city is a result of unmet needs, including lack of affordable housing, inadequate access to mental health services, and low-paying wages.

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Charles is one of at least 58 other children under 18 who were shot in the metro Atlanta area in 2022.

Atlanta Police said Atlantic Station also put a strict curfew in place that states that starting at 3 p.m., anyone under 18 must be with a parent.

Atlantic Station officials also hope the curfew would break up any group of four or more people under 18.

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Authorities added that the Atlantic Station curfew also has a rule that starting at 9 p.m., anyone under the age of 21 will not be allowed on the property and that all guests may be subject to presenting ID to verify their age.

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