Marchers allege brutality in Black man's death

  • Marietta Police continue probe as racial tension builds

Kevin Robinson was one of about 50 people who marched through downtown Marietta Saturday to protest the death of his best friend. Robinson's friend, Paul Johnson, 19, died Tuesday evening in a police holding cell after getting into a fight with several Marietta police officers at Glenbrooke Apartments. Johnson's funeral was Saturday. The march was organized by New Order, a civil rights group based in Cobb that has taken on the county's racial issues. The protesters believe Johnson, who was black, was a victim of police brutality. "That really broke my heart to see what happened," said Robinson, also 19. "They're finding ways to kill us." The group of family, friends and supporters walked about four blocks from the Cobb County Library in downtown Marietta to the police station. They didn't have a permit for the march, but Marietta police cars stopped traffic for them as they walked in the street shouting "We want justice! It's always just us!" [more ]