Causes.com
| 8.14.23
Atlanta: 'Vote to Stop Cop City' Referendum Passes Signature Threshold
Do you support or oppose Kemp's declared state of emergency?
Updated August 14, 2023, 5:05 p.m. PST
- The "Vote to Stop Cop City" campaign to get a public referendum on Cop City on the November ballot has received 80,000 signatures, exceeding the minimum number needed.
- The campaigners have set a goal of 100,000 signatures before they submit the petition next Monday.
- Group spokesperson Kamau Franklin said:
"We have way more than enough signatures to move forward."
Updated August 11, 2023, 1:35 p.m. PST
- Activists, including Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter Bernice King, have joined a broad coalition of "Cop City" opponents. "Cop City" is a multimillion-dollar police training complex that has been at the center of controversy since its inception.
- Opponents, including environmentalists and anti-police activists, are calling on officials to allow a citywide public referendum on the complex.
- The campaign, "Vote to Stop Cop City" is working to collect 70,000 signatures from Atlanta voters by the August 14 deadline. If achieved, the referendum would be placed on the November ballot. If the campaigners do not reach their goal, the referendum would be delayed until March.
- The proposed referendum comes as organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People are urging the Department of Homeland Security to conduct an investigation into the mass surveillance of "Cop City" protesters, dozens of which have been arrested for domestic terrorism.
- The South River Watershed Alliance has also sued the city of Atlanta because construction of the complex has contaminated local water streams.
Updated June 7, 2023
- The Atlanta City Council has approved $31 million in funding for "Cop City," a controversial police training center that has been at the core of protests for almost two years.
- The remainder of the $90 million project will be funded by private donations to the Atlanta Police Foundation, the non-profit that planned the center.
- One of the controversial provisions is that the city will pay $1.2 million a year for 30 years for the center, which will cost taxpayers $67 million.
- Opponents and activists have argued that the center will promote police brutality against communities of color and destroy a vital forest.
- A publicly held meeting in advance of the decision featured several speakers who were against the funding. Matthew Johnson, executive director of Beloved Community Ministries, said:
"We're here to stop environmental racism and the militarization of the police. We need to go back to meeting the basic needs rather than using police as the sole solution to all of our social problems."
- Susi Durán, from the National Lawyers Guild, said:
"Cop City has already proven to be a source of violence, oppression, militarized approaches to civilians, unconstitutional activity and economic and environmental disaster."
Updated March 8, 2023
- Protestors lined the streets of downtown Atlanta on Tuesday afternoon to continue their protest against the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center,
- The protestors were calling for Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens to halt construction on the facility.
Updated March 7, 2023
- Thirty-five protestors were detained after throwing rocks, fireworks, and Molotov cocktails at the site of a new police training facility, the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, known by activists as "Cop City." At least 23 people face domestic terrorism charges.
- "Cop City" was the site of the police killing of environmental activist Manuel “Tortuguita” Teran on Jan. 18 during an altercation between protestors and law enforcement.
- The activists are protesting police brutality and the destruction of the South River Forest wilderness area to make room for the Center.
- The protestors were in attendance at the South River Music Festival which was held near the site. They reportedly changed into black clothing and then attacked the construction site, according to the Atlanta Police Department.
- The department said a group of violent agitators clashed with authorities in an intentional and "coordinated attack on construction equipment and police officers.”
- Police continued:
“They changed into black clothing and entered the construction area and began to throw large rocks, bricks, Molotov cocktails, and fireworks at police officers. The agitators destroyed multiple pieces of construction equipment by fire and vandalism.”
- Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) released a statement saying:
“Domestic terrorism will NOT be tolerated in this state.”
- Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) said she will be introducing a resolution declaring Antifa a terrorist group, although there is no indication that they were involved in the protests.
Updated February 8, 2023
- A private autopsy of activist Manuel “Tortuguita” Teran, whose death at the hands of police led to widespread riots in Atlanta, showed that he was shot thirteen times.
What's the story?
- Gov. Brian Kemp (R) has declared a state of emergency in Georgia until Feb. 9, authorizing the use of up to 1,000 National Guard Troops to maintain public order and quell violence amid protests against "Cop City."
- The state of emergency was declared after violent protests erupted in Atlanta following the police killing of environmental activist Manuel “Tortuguita” Teran on Jan. 18.
Environmentalists vs “Cop City”
- Since the summer of 2021, Defend the Atlanta Forest activists have vocally opposed the construction of a new police training facility, dubbed “Cop City," in Dekalb County’s South River Forest. They have hosted tree-sits, rallies, and community protests against the site.
- The protests gained momentum after Teran, a member of Defend the Atlanta Forest, was shot to death by a SWAT team during a raid of their encampment.
- Police claim that Teran shot at them first, but none of the police officers were wearing body cameras, and activists present at Teran’s death dispute the authorities’ timeline of events. Protestors want an independent inquiry into the events.
- Teran’s death triggered protests against police violence and vigils were held as far afield as Kurdistan.
The protests become violent
- The protests became violent a week ago after activists started to throw rocks at the Atlanta Police Foundation building.
- The protesters also set fire to a police cruiser.
- Six protesters were arrested.
Kemp’s response
- In Wednesday’s State of the State address, Kemp accused the rioters of being out-of-state troublemakers and stated:
“[This is] the latest example of why here in Georgia, we’ll always back the blue.”
- Kemp has made all resources available to the National Guard to maintain public order.
- The state of emergency comes in advance of expected protests in light of the release of body camera footage of the police killing of Tyre Nichols on Friday.
Do you think the state of emergency is justified?
—Emma Kansiz
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From the introductory write-up, it seems that some over-zealous swat team members killed an environmental protester who was in a protester encampment - and the property destruction came after the shooting. It would seem that the answer is to first investigate the shooting to quell the property destruction before calling in the troops.
For some reason, Republicans seem to feel it is their mandate to tell people how to behave and what to do instead in listening to their concerns and finding ways to address them, or try to explain to them why what they are protesting is necessary and ultimately in the protester's interests.
This has the potential of turning out quite badly, much like the Kent State shootings a few decades ago. Cooler heads are needed to address the issues without the political power play to show the protesters just 'who is the boss'.
Any time there wil be a large group assembling it's a good idea to have law enforcement available to ensure everyone's safety and to protect property. As long as protest is peaceful it should be just a precaution.
Kemp's reacting to one protestor that has died, a Georgia State Trooper is recovering in the hospital at Cop Center protests and likely more protests to come over Tyre Nicol's, in addition to breaking windows and a police car on fire.
https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/01/19/cop-city-fatal-shooting-atlanta
https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/01/26/cop-city-protest-kemp-emergency-declaration-georgia
It appears every time some group files for a protest March or a protest on public property, along comes the rioters. I am in agreement with safe peaceful protesting. But when it comes looting, burning, damaging property I totally disagree. It is sad when we have to use our National Guard to keep idiots out of peaceful protests.
Governor Kemp has over-reacted and it will likely cost more lives. Of course, Kemp feels that he "must look strong" to his MAGAT's.
I think a state of emergency is fine, and Kemp has the right to try to reign in violence.
However, the protests are also warranted. How is it ever ok for police to not have their body cameras on when they go on a raid? How will we know what happened during this raid and why they killed this activist?
Further investigation is required, and the people of Georgia deserve answers. Violence is never the answer, but protests should continue until answers are heard.
I think the protests are warrented; violent protest is not. At that point (when incindiary devices are being used), declaring a state of emergency is fine.
As a sub-comment, I'm amused that MTG thinks Antifa is an organization.
Cop City will never be built as long as our government reflects the will of the people. Use the money for a wellness + resource center for the unhoused, city infatructure (our roads!!), and public schools. The police have been trained and invested in enough. Consider new training for police that doesn't require flattening 85+ acres of natural forest for war games. Cops should demilitarize, start listening to the communities they serve, and use the training centers they've already got.
Kemp is an idiot,Who dresses him in the morning. On another note I'm sick to death of Ammon Bundy Living off of the government i.e. us the tax payers. He's nothing but a mooch and a grifter.
Anything to help our police protect us.
Sad day for Atlanta.
Bad idea. Baaaaaaaaad idea.
Those who oppose support anarchy
Having lived in Atlanta in the 90s I can assure you that this is a very bad idea!
Stop cop city
Unnecessary. Should have proper training already!!
Seems to me this isn't really a black and white situation (no pun intended). While I don't automatically assume that a police training facility will increase brutality against people of color (very much depends on the training in question), I also don't support destroying a forest for it.
Generally speaking, I'd probably be on the side of the protesters, but if you're going to protest something like this, it seems like presenting an alternative solution would have been a better option than simply resisting the entire project.
We need cops to become more humane and more caring. This proposed site will not do thst
I oppose this support of Cop City.
Seattle, NYC, Baltimore and a host of other cities have shown what happens if law and order are not reinforced by a strong police presence.
I find it strange that several groups against a Center for training cops, were calling for more police training after street violence broke out two summers ago.
No wonder the police feel they are in a damned if they do and damned if they don't.
Drama and fear.... keep people afraid and you,control them. That's hat the media and causes does!
Over-policing is not a solution to crime.
Cop City is a complete waste. It won't work and it will continue to cost residents of Atlanta and Georgia in money and lives lost for years to come.
The answer is the deal with the root causes.
Support people and famillies.
Support our schools and our teachers and school counsellors.
Drug treatment programs. Psychiatric care.
AND (I know this won't happen) better laws concerning GUNS!
This is not a Yes/No answer. We are in dire need of more formal police training, including expectations of what their role in society should be. THE POLICE ARE OUR FRIENDS!
I do not agree with destroying an important piece of land to make room for such a center. Surely there are other places they could consider.
It does seem these protests have gotten violent, and that's not ok. I hope Kemp and the authorities can find a way to de-escalate this so that peaceful protesters are allowed to continue exercising their First Amendment rights while law enforcement is not harmed.
What a surprise that a Republican governor has allowed this to get violent.
The only state of emergency in Georgia is the number of truth deniers.
@Andy, sounds like your all for violence! I don't mind the police around my neighborhood at all. It's the anarchist protesters I don't want. And I would cry a river if it meant putting down Bang Bang protesters!
I can't fathom agreeing with kemp. Ever. Hard to see a soul in him. Easy to see the hate.