Plan Revealed by Atlanta Organizers to Prevent Establishment of ‘Cop City’ Through Voting

A movement has been launched by activists in Atlanta to push for a referendum that would give voters the power to decide whether the construction of a police and firefighter training center, known as “Cop City,” should move forward. This referendum is seen as a last-ditch effort to halt the project, which has faced opposition from its critics.

After the City Council rejected pleas from protesters to defund the training facility, activists took their fight to City Hall, where they filed a referendum petition. The proposed referendum would allow voters to repeal the ordinance that authorized the lease of the city-owned land for the project.

To get the referendum on the ballot, organizers must gather the signatures of over 70,000 Atlanta voters within a 60-day period, once the city clerk approves the petition. They will also need to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to cover the costs of hiring canvassers to help with signature collection.

During a news conference, community organizer Kamau Franklin emphasized the importance of giving the people a voice in deciding the fate of “Cop City.” He criticized the City Council for ignoring the concerns of Atlanta’s residents and accused them of siding with the Atlanta Police Foundation to further militarize the police.

Alex Joseph, a local attorney leading the legal effort, drew inspiration from a successful referendum campaign in Camden County, Georgia, where residents voted against the construction of a rocket launchpad. Although there may be legal challenges from city officials, Joseph and other attorneys are working to ensure the legality of the referendum.

The opponents of the training center must gather signatures from 15% of the registered voters in Atlanta, which amounts to around 70,330 signatures. Several organizations, including the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Working Families Party, are supporting the effort. In the meantime, construction has already begun on the 85-acre campus, but opponents plan to seek a court order to halt the work until the referendum’s outcome is determined.

Proponents argue that the $90 million facility will address the inadequate training facilities and recruitment challenges faced by the police department. However, opponents fear that it will only increase the militarization of the police and worsen environmental damage in a predominantly Black, low-income area.

The “Stop Cop City” movement has faced controversy, with incidents of vandalism and violence during protests against the project. The City Council meeting to discuss funding for the facility lasted over 14 hours, with more than 350 people passionately speaking out against it. Despite their efforts, the council approved the funding with an 11-4 vote.

Now, activists are shifting their focus to the referendum, seeing it as a potential game-changer. If successful, the referendum would effectively shut down the project and cancel the lease agreement between the city and the Atlanta Police Foundation.

While gathering the required number of signatures within the tight timeframe will be challenging, local organizer Clara Totenberg Green is optimistic about the support and mobilization from the community.