GovernmentPanicShockingWrong Caption

Viral claim that Atlanta deployed child militia is false.

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Claim: Ever since the death of George Floyd, the black man who was killed by the hands of a Minneapolis police officer has resulted in protests in America. A large number of videos and photos of protest happening in America have been going viral. A video of security forces in riot gears has been going viral on various social media platforms with the claim that in the city of Atlanta, child militia has been deployed.

The caption attached to the viral video reads as follow:

“Atlanta has deployed a child militia at Lenox Mall fitted with riot shields and batons.”

Facebook

The video has been shared by many on Facebook abd has received over 10,000 views.

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Twitter

Many have shared the same on Twitter as well.

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YouTube

The video with the viral claim has also been shared on YouTube and has received more than 4000 views.

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Truth

The viral claim is false. Atlanta police did not deploy child militia. The Atlanta Police Department retweeted the post by GA National Guard that states that to become a service member in the Georgia National Guard, one is required to be 18 year old or 17 years with parents consent. In the tweet it is also added that rumours of them having child soldiers is false.

Major international publications like Snopes and Insider also published articles that state the viral claim is false. Thus, it is proved that officials shown in the video are not underage.

 

Attached below is the tweet by the GA National Guard’s official twitter handle.

Source: GA National Guard

 

Given below are the screenshots and links of the articles published by Snopes and Insider.

Source: Snopes 

 

Source: Insider


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Ashitha S. Prasad

Wondering and questioning. Learning and unlearning. Aspiring to narrate stories to make a difference. Smiling through the entire process.