Atlanta Forest Defenders
Background
On September 8th 2021 the Atlanta City Council approved a plan to build an 85-acre "public safety training center" (otherwise called "Cop City") at the historical old Prison Farm site in unincorporated DeKalb County in southeast Atlanta. [1] The project will cost approximately 90 million dollars with 30 million dollars coming from tax payers and the other 60 million being funded by the Atlanta Police foundation (APF.) [2] The land will be leased to the APF for 10 dollars a year.
The decision made by the City Council was met with strong opposition from many local residents. 1,100 Atlanta residents voiced their opinions to the council with approximately 70% of residents expressing their opposition to said development. [3] In addition to opposition from the general community 16 environmental action organizations signed an open letter urging the Atlanta City council to not approve the project. [4]
Forest Defenders directly opposed the construction of the Cop City constructing encampments in the forest and erected tree forts atop of trees. The encampments were erected for several months populated by a diverse group of individuals protecting the forest.
Indigenous Presence In Region
Atlanta Prison Farm
Atlanta Police Foundation
Resistance to Cop City
- ↑ https://saportareport.com/public-safety-training-center-wins-city-council-approval-opponents-suggest-fight-to-continue/sections/reports/johnruch/
- ↑ https://news.littlesis.org/2022/11/15/meet-the-major-corporations-and-cultural-institutions-helping-build-cop-city-in-atlanta/
- ↑ https://decaturish.com/2022/09/cop-city-explained-a-look-at-the-ongoing-controversy-surrounding-police-training-center/
- ↑ https://www.sierraclub.org/georgia/blog/2021/08/SouthRiverForestLetter