Arrest Made After Desecration At Historic King Center
Brent Jones was arrested in Atlanta early Saturday morning after police say he urinated on the Eternal Flame at the King Center, a national memorial honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Officers responded to a trespassing call around 4:30 a.m. and found the 26-year-old damaging the site’s reflecting pool and attempting to extinguish the symbolic flame.
Police Say Jones Caused Thousands In Damage
According to arrest records, Jones ignored commands to leave the premises and instead “began damaging the property further by urinating into the reflection pool at The King Center where Dr. Martin Luther King and Ms. Coretta Scott King were laid to rest.” Authorities estimate the damage at nearly $3,000.
The report also says Jones “damaged the eternal flame at the location that is a memorial site for Dr. King Jr.” by urinating on it “to put it out.” Officers added he was “stomping on the Eternal Flame, causing significant damage.”
@erynrogerstv Police arrested a man for breaking the Eternal Flame and peeing in the reflection pool near the gravesite of MLK, Jr. #MLK#vandalism#atlanta#news#arrest♬ original sound – Eryn
Eternal Flame Represents King’s Legacy
The Eternal Flame, as described on the King Center’s website, “symbolizes the continuing effort to realize Dr. King’s dream of the ‘Beloved Community.’” It is a centerpiece of the memorial site, which draws thousands of visitors each year…