The Atlanta City Council has taken a significant step towards providing funding for a controversial public safety training facility. In a vote of 11-4, the council approved legislation that would allocate an additional $31 million from the 2023 uncommitted general fund budget to the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. This decision comes after a lengthy City Council meeting where community members and organizers expressed their disapproval of the facility, which has been nicknamed “Cop City.” The council also passed a resolution calling for two seats on the Atlanta Police Foundation board.
Videos posted on Twitter by reporters show that following the vote, protesters chanted “Cop City will never be built.” This vote comes two weeks after the finance subcommittee voted 5-1 in favor of funding the training site. The Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, planned to be located in the South River Forest, will span at least 85 acres and has a complex historical context, including a plantation, prison farm, and the displacement of Indigenous people. While philanthropic and corporate donations will cover two-thirds of the total cost, or around $60 million, taxpayers will contribute the remaining amount.
However, concerns have been raised regarding a “leaseback agreement” that could result in taxpayers paying over double the original allocation of $31 million. The agreement would require the city of Atlanta to pay the Atlanta Police Foundation $1.2 million annually to use the training facility, adding $36 million to the overall cost over a 30-year lease. The mayor’s office claims that this arrangement is “budget neutral” and will utilize funds already allocated for training police officers and firefighters.
Although the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center is not expected to be the largest facility of its kind in the U.S., there are concerns that the plans may expand beyond the initial 85 acres to encompass the entire 381-acre lease. The remaining land is currently designated for “greenspace.” Opponents of the facility, known collectively as the Stop Cop City movement, come from diverse backgrounds and hold various interests, including Black people, Indigenous individuals, abolitionists, and environmentalists. They have employed different methods to support the cause, such as living in the forest to protect the land, organizing protests, and sharing information both in person and online.
During the City Council meeting, Sara McClintock, an Emory University religion professor, urged council members to reject the legislation, stating that the facility does not contribute positively to the city or promote peace. However, the movement has faced opposition and even violence from law enforcement and city officials. Georgia state troopers killed Manuel Estaban Paez Terán, a forest defender, during a raid to clear the construction site. Additionally, numerous individuals, including festival attendees, have been charged with domestic terrorism. Recent arrests of board members supporting the movement have resulted in charges of money laundering and charity fraud.
Some officials, like Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, have taken a firm stance against the movement and vowed to hold accountable those who have participated in violence or provided funds for such activities. Other elected officials, such as Democratic Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock of Georgia, have encouraged opponents of the project to engage in peaceful protest and express their concerns to the City Council. Despite hours of public comment, peaceful protests, and various efforts to raise awareness, the movement has yet to receive a satisfactory response and has instead faced numerous arrests.
Organizers have called out the relentless opposition from lawmakers and law enforcement as a form of political persecution. Hannah Riley, a writer and organizer, emphasized that the movement remains strong and determined despite intimidation and suppression, viewing it as an attempt to infringe upon individuals’ First Amendment rights.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
