A state of emergency as 35 were arrested, with 23 facing domestic terrorism charges, after violent protests at the so-called “Cop City” planned law enforcement training facility near Atlanta. The protests are expected to worsen, but why?
Protests at ‘Cop City’ outside Atlanta turns violent
On Sunday, Atlanta police officers faced violent protests that resulted in at least one death, 35 arrests, and at least 23 people arrested on domestic terrorism charges amid a clash that is expected to grow more intense.
Protesters took to violent means in an effort to block the construction of a $90 million public safety training campus in an area outside of Atlanta called the South River Forest, NPR reported.
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum described the assault as “a very violent attack,” saying his officers called in backup from DeKalb County and the Georgia State Patrol.
Protesters hurled Molotov cocktails, rocks, and fireworks at officers, as well as set heavy equipment and other equipment on fire. The escalation of the protests has now engaged the involvement of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the FBI.
At least 23 people of the 35 arrested are now facing domestic terrorism charges. The majority of the protesters are not from the area, with only two arrested from Georgia, with the rest coming from other states, as well as one person from Canada and another from France, CNN reported.
Protesters say they won’t be deterred
“There will continue to be protests meant to express the outrage of the community,” the leader of the protests said. “These are big-tent protests. We don’t expect incidents beyond standard civil disobedience. We hope the police will act accordingly and not in violent ways that exacerbate the situation.”
As more protests are planned in the coming days, Atlanta police say they will implement a “multilayered strategy,” that includes “reaction and arrest,” while saying the department “asks for this week’s protests to remain peaceful.”
What is fueling the protests?
At the heart of the protests is a battle over maintaining “green space” in Atlanta. The location of the proposed training facility is in South River Forest, a spot in South DeKalb County described as one of the “four lungs” of Atlanta. The city owns more than 380 acres in the area.
The protests have been building and growing over the past two years. In December, five people were arrested on domestic terrorism and other charges.
In January, officers shot and killed an activist. Authorities say the activists fired at and injured a state trooper. However, fellow protesters say it was another officer who injured the trooper.
1. City reverses plans for green space
In 2017, the area was initially identified as a key part of the city plan to create green spaces and recreation options, and the City Council approved the plan. However, the city’s leaders later made a deal to lease land to the Atlanta Police Foundation to build a large training facility.
The Georgia chapter of the Sierra Club accused city leaders of not listening to their constituents.
2. Opponents say training facility will propagate militarized policing
The site was initially planned to encompass some 150 acres but has now been downsized to 85 acres at the cost of $90 million. Opponents say it will still dwarf comparable facilities.
An explosives training center was part of the original plan but has now been scrapped. However, the plan for the facility still includes a “shoot house,” burn building, firing range, and other aspects that opponents say undermines the goal of creating a peaceful and cohesive green space.
One of the activists said the response by law enforcement to protests “further demonstrates policies of police aggression in the tactical response of over-policing.” The opponents say the training site will be used to teach law enforcement officers how to quash social justice movements.
