Protester stands in front of construction equipment with raised fist.

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   It's Going Down (igd_news@kolektiva.social)'s status on Friday, 08-Sep-2023 18:26:40 JST It's Going Down

   This morning in #Atlanta five people, including faith leaders and community members, chained themselves to equipment at the construction site of the Cop City project.

   "There is a war happening against protesters. If we don’t stand up for our right to protest now, standing up in the future will be in vain. Cop city is in the process of being built and this can only continue if we allow it," said Ayeola, one of the protesters arrested on site.

   Regarding the referendum against Cop City, Ayeola said, "As Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens fights against our right to stop cop city via the ballot, we must continue our struggle to stop the project with direct actions like sit-ins, boycotts, and blockades."

   "This movement cannot be won with a ballot alone; we must organize together for mass direct actions if we want to have a chance at protecting our community and saving our planet."

   "Despite the repressive tactics of authorities who wish to disenfranchise the community and charge protestors with domestic terrorism and RICO, people of faith will continue to act to resist the militarization of our society," said Reverend Dave Dunn.

   All of the protesters gathered outside of the construction site for the support rally were able to get away safely.

   The construction of Cop City and the destruction of the South River Forest have continued despite over 100,000 Atlanta residents signing a ballot initiative calling for a referendum on the issue. The City of Atlanta has fought the referendum with technical obstructions.

   On Tuesday, Georgia Attorney General Christopher Carr announced indictments against 61 cop city protestors on RICO and money laundering charges. These charges are in addition to the dozens of domestic terrorism charges that have been levied against cop city protestors.

   Civil rights groups across the country have condemned the charges, and in June Dekalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced that her office would not join the State in the prosecution of the domestic terrorism charges, citing a lack of evidence.

   Cop City would be the largest police training compound in the United States, and would train police from around the world in militarized tactics. The initial phases of the construction of the facility has already destroyed 85 acres of the South River forest, a critical ecological resource situated in a majority black community.

   On January 18th Georgia State Police shot and killed Manuel "Tortuguita" Terán as they camped in the South River Forest to protest Cop City. An independent autopsy found that they had their hands up in the air and were sitting cross-legged when they were killed. No gunpowder residue was found on their hands.

   Via @defendATLforest