Last week, US District Judge Mark Cohen took Atlanta officials to task for skirting around the verification of a whopping 100,000+ petition signatures. The goal? To bring the debate over the $90 million police training facility, endearingly dubbed “Cop City,” to the voters. And, oh yeah, this isn’t just any facility. The project threatens to take a bulldozer to one of the last forests standing in Atlanta.
Since its green light by the Atlanta City Council in June, the city has been evading the referendum efforts. Judge Cohen’s take? In essence: “Atlanta, come on. Remember that age-old saying? Honesty is the Best Policy.”
But there’s more to this story than a potential deforestation and an elusive city council. This is about the fundamental right to democracy. If Georgia’s bigwigs are waving the democracy flag, they need to ensure its very essence isn’t being trampled on in their own backyard.
Stacey Abrams, Georgia’s poster child for voting rights, has been vocal about the controversial plan. Her group, Fair Fight Action, criticized Atlanta’s plan for signature verification, warning against a method that’s notorious for sidelining marginalized voters. Abrams didn’t mince words: “Regardless of one’s position on the subject matter, the leadership of the city should make every effort to allow direct citizen engagement by vote.”
Sen. Raphael Warnock, champion of the Freedom to Vote Act, echoed Abrams, pushing for a clearer, more democratic process. And the calls for justice? They’re growing louder. Over 80 civil rights groups, including Black Voters Matter, are urging the Atlanta City Council to let the people decide on “Cop City.”
But wait, the plot thickens.
Over 60 activists, those advocating against Cop City and fighting for the forest, got slapped with RICO charges last week. Yup, the very law used against Trump in the 2020 election saga and rapper Young Thug. And these charges? They’re not just any misdemeanors. We’re talking about domestic terrorism. This aggressive move by Republican state attorney Chris Carr has been slammed by human rights organizations and advocates across the board.
In a powerful act of resistance, faith leaders took the fight right to the proposed site, chaining themselves to construction equipment.
Mary Hooks, a key voice in the Stop Cop City movement and a leading figure at the Highlander Center (yeah, the same one that trained Rosa Parks), stood firm. “We’re here to assert the people’s will,” she declared. “We will not be deterred.”
It’s clear: this isn’t just about a building. It’s about the very heart of democracy, a fight that’s more relevant now than ever. Atlanta, the ball is in your court. Don’t drop it.
