Mayor: Continues to work with protesters, won't let them shut down city

ATLANTA - In a candid interview, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said his meeting with forty people, mostly demonstrators, got off to a rocky start.

Reed endured curse words hurled at him. No big deal, he said. He kept his mind on finding a middle ground with those protesters who came with recommendations how to make police interaction with citizens better.

He clearly expects demonstrations to continue, but he said police will not allow them to disrupt citizens or businesses who expect to be able to carry on as usual.

By getting personally involved, Reed said, he believes he has helped reduce both the number and the frustration level felt by those who, in his words, are legitimately concerned about the police involved killings of black men across the nation.