What Happened
A violent clash between police and Stop Cop City protesters led to 23 people being charged with domestic terrorism.
Two of the 23 protesters are from Georgia while the others are from out-of-state or out-of-country.
Protesters were allegedly throwing bricks, rocks, fireworks and Molotov cocktails at officers, police said. The group left a music festival, changed into black clothing, entered the construction area and launched a “coordinated attack,” according to the Atlanta Police Department.
The Context
The City of Atlanta leased 381 acres of land to the Atlanta Police Foundation according to the “Stop Cop City” website. The land is surrounded by primarily black residents and historically belonged to the Muscogee.
According to the training center’s website, the Public Safety Training Center will include a firing range, a fitness center for public safety professionals, a canine training center, the Atlanta Fire Rescue and Police departments and more.
ABC News reported that groups like Defend the Atlanta Forest argue that the center will harmfully impact the forest, which is a vital part of the community.
According to NPR, in 2017, the land was identified as a key piece to creating “green space and recreation options for the underserved part of Atlanta.” The city council approved the plan, but leaders made a deal to lease the land to the Atlanta Police Foundation to build the training center.
The Latest
According to ABC News, Atlanta police, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the FBI are investigating the incident.
Protesters insist on a “week of action” against the construction site. Police plan to respond with an increase of patrol officers to prevent an escalation of violence according to FOX 5 News.
After declaring a state of emergency back in January, Gov. Brian Kemp released a statement saying that any protesters committing illegal acts while protesting at the construction site would be prosecuted.
