Activists call on Atlanta to end encampment sweeps after death of Cornelius Taylor

Rev. Timothy McDonald speaks alongside Housing Justice League and the family of Cornelius Taylor in a press conference calling for the city to stop encampment clearings. (Stephannie Stokes/WABE)

Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images / Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Activists and civil rights leaders are calling on the City of Atlanta to stop clearing homeless encampments following the death of Cornelius Taylor last week.

Witnesses said a city construction vehicle killed Taylor while he was still in his tent along Old Wheat Street in Atlanta.

Before Thursday’s city council meeting, members of his family joined organizers from Housing Justice League and longtime activists Reverend Timothy McDonald and Attorney Mawuli Davis on the steps of City Hall.



“I couldn’t save him, but we can all save the next one,” said Taylor’s cousin Darlene Chaney, who said they were raised together. “There shouldn’t be a next one. There won’t be a next one if we stop the sweeps.”

She said Taylor was like a big brother. He called her often and they’d discuss Bible verses. She said he didn’t deserve to die.

Alongside Chaney, activists called for an entirely new approach to homelessness.

Reverend Shanan Jones of the Concerned Black Clergy described what he saw as misplaced priorities in the state, which has accumulated billions of dollars in a surplus.

“$11,000 million is under that gold dome,” Jones said. “And Cornelius Taylor is under a bulldozer. We have to fix this evil.”

Police are still investigating Taylor’s death and the city has released few additional details.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has called Taylor’s death as a tragic incident. He said the city would review its procedures but has yet to provide further details.