Defendants, known as Atlanta Forest, have been linked to Antifa and are part of a “self-identified coalition and enterprise of militant anarchists, eco-activists and community organizers,” who are also “anti-police,” the indictment alleges. They believe that the facility will further militarize police and cause environmental damage.
Other opponents to the facility are pursuing a referendum to cancel the lease approved by the City Council. More than 35,000 signatures have been collected to stop “Cop City” on an upcoming ballot, but they need over 70,000 signatures.
Excerpt from Atlanta News First:
The indictment lists 225 incidents in which the defendants are alleged to have worked together to stop the facility’s construction, including:
- On July 5, 2020, members of the group attacked Georgia Department of Public Safety headquarters by throwing rocks and hurling a Molotov cocktail through the window, resulting in the injury of two employees and the building catching fire;
- On May 17, 2022, defendants threw Molotov cocktails and glass bottles at police officers;
- On Dec. 13, 2022, defendants threw fireworks at firefighters and EMTs, damaged an Atlanta police vehicle, and cut the safety rope of an arborist working in one of the trees on the site;
- On multiple occasions, members of the group torched and caused other damage to buildings and construction equipment, including excavators and bulldozers, owned by contractors associated with the project and then claimed responsibility for the destruction;
- Members of the group used the Scenes Blog to call for a “Night of Rage” to occur on Jan. 21, 2023, during which defendants committed arson and property damage and attempted to break into 191 Peachtree, where the Atlanta Police Foundation’s office is located;
- On March 5, 2023, a member of the group punched a police officer and an organized mob attacked other law enforcement who were guarding the site and the crowd proceeded to set construction vehicles on fire; and
- On July 3, 2022, at least one member of the group vandalized historic Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Atlanta News First: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/09/05/60-facing-rico-charges-over-atlanta-police-training-center-protests/
From NY Post:
Dozens of “militant anarchists” and “eco-activists” opposed to the construction of a police training center critics call “Cop City” have been indicted on racketeering charges, Georgia’s state attorney general announced Tuesday.
The sweeping indictment — made public Tuesday after it was handed up by a grand jury last week — accused 61 members of a group called “Defend the Atlanta Forest” of illegally occupying the training site while committing vandalism and violence.
GOP Attorney General Chris Carr slammed the defendants during a news conference Tuesday.
“The 61 defendants together have conspired to prevent the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center by conducting, coordinating and organizing acts of violence, intimidation and property destruction,” Carr said.
Critics behind the “Stop Cop City” effort, which has been going on for more than two years, believe the $90 million police and fire training center will further militarize police and cause environmental damage in an urban forest.
Defendants are part of a “self-identified coalition and enterprise of militant anarchists, eco-activists and community organizers,” who are also “anti-police,” the indictment alleges.
Does anyone have the “balls” to arrest these idiots and put them away forever?