Police Deploy Tear Gas To Deter ‘Stop Cop City’ March
Words and photos by Josh Fischer
In 2021 the city of Atlanta announced the abandoned Atlanta Prison Farm as the location for its new Public Safety Training Center. This resulted in the development of the "Stop Cop City" movement. Shortly after the announcement land defenders occupied the forest, erecting tree sits to prevent the start of construction.
The blockade continued until January 18th 2023, when a raid was launched by multiple police departments. During this raid Manuel "Tortuguita" Terán was Killed by the Georgia State Troopers. Tortuguita was shot 57 times. An independent autopsy revealed he had his hands raised when he was shot and there was no gunshot residue, contradicting the state's claim that he shot officers first. Since then 23 associated with the movement have been charged with domestic terrorism and 61 have been charged with racketeering under the Georgia Rico Indictment act.
A few months after the raid the Stop Cop City movement put out a call out for land defenders. There was to be a peaceful march onto the construction site on November 13th.
Tortuguita’s mother Belkis Terán, speaking to reporters before the march began.
On the day of the action around 400 land defenders arrived in high spirits meeting in a park near the construction site. They marched towards the forest carrying saplings to plant inside the construction zone. A musical band accompanied the march alongside elaborate puppets. As they neared the site the group was confronted by police in riot gear. The police departments on site included the Atlanta police Department, Dekalb county police department and the Georgia State Patrol, who murdered Tortuguita.
The crowd continued marching towards the police line and a clash ensued. They were battered with riot shields but continued to push the police back. An officer threw a tear gas grenade into the crowd. This set off a reaction and was followed by multiple tear gas and concussion grenades. Soon the crowd split into two. One group ran into the forest to try and escape the poisonous gas and the other group pulled back down the road the way they had come.
Police began firing tear gas canisters into the forest. After some confusion the group from the forest merged back with the main group. They appeared from the forest with their arms raised.
More armoured vehicles and additional police support arrived. The land defenders returned the way they came planting the trees on the way.
Planting trees along the route