Video and some of the information by Unicorn Riot.
‘On Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th , SWAT teams and other armed police officers from eight different federal, state, county, and city police agencies conducted a raid on those camping out in the Atlanta forest in hopes of preventing the construction of a 85-acre police training facility that opponents have dubbed “Cop City.”
During the raid, police shot tear gas and plastic bullets and forced people out of the forest at gunpoint. Police in Bobcats and other heavy equipment destroyed treehouses, a communal kitchen, and other infrastructure built by those dedicated to the defense of the forest.
By the end of the two-day operation, a total of 12 people were arrested, according to police. At least six of those have been charged with a host of felonies, including state-level domestic terrorism charges, according to the Atlanta Solidarity Fund.
At a hearing Thursday, Magistrate Judge Claire Jason denied bond to five of the arrestees charged with felonies.
“Each of you have been charged with domestic terrorism,” Jason said, appearing to read from a document on her screen. “Generally the information that I have on the affidavit of warrant…You did participate in actions of DTAF, Defend the Atlanta Forest, a group that’s been classified by the United States Department of Homeland Security as a domestic violent extremist group.” ‘
Once again, the police abuses their power in order to acquire further political power. They want to destroy the forest that keeps Atlanta city from flooding in order to practice how to kill people in their own private playground. Folks who oppose the destruction of the wild and the privatisation of public spaces get thrown in jail with domestic terrorism charges.
We all should do our very best to show solidarity to the arrestees and to ensure that cop city (and blackball studios) are not built in the Atlanta Forest or anywhere else for that matter.
For now, please write letters to the five folks locked up, who will really appreciate tales of the wild and unfortunate stories about the police.
Send them mail here:
Francis Carroll – #X2210240
Dekalb County Jail
4415 Memorial Drive Decatur,
GA 30032
USA
Nicholas Dean Olson – #X2210239
Dekalb County Jail
4415 Memorial Drive Decatur,
GA 30032
USA
Serena Hertel – #X2210242
Dekalb County Jail
4415 Memorial Drive Decatur,
GA 30032
USA
Arieon Robinson – #X2210252
Dekalb County Jail
4415 Memorial Drive Decatur,
GA 30032
USA
Voiselle Leonardo – #X2210238
Dekalb County Jail
4415 Memorial Drive Decatur,
GA 30032
USA
Mail must be a pre-stamped postcard, letters/envelopes are not allowed. Photo postcards are allowed but no obscene or violent images. Books must be softcover, shipped from a reputable supplier (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.), Nothing “violent, pornographic, or obscene”.
If you can afford it, donate to their fund here:
https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/contribute-to-the-atlanta-solidarity-fund
Fight back against the power hungry police.
You can never tame what is wild.
