Atlanta's Public Safety Training Center, nicknamed "Cop City," has been a source of controversy since its inception. Critics argue that it's a massive waste of taxpayer money that will only further militarize and entrench the police. Activists have also expressed concerns about the environmental impact and discriminatory hiring practices surrounding the center.
But now, Cop City has become infamous for another reason. In January of this year, a protester named "Tortuguita" was shot and killed by six Georgia State Troopers during a raid of the campgrounds. The Stone Mountain Circuit District Attorney's Office has declined to charge the troopers, citing the use of "objectively reasonable" lethal force. But Tortuguita's family and fellow activists are fighting back, alleging that the shooting was unjustified.
The idea for Cop City began in 2015 when then-Mayor Kasim Reed proposed a plan to replace the aging police training facility in Atlanta. The new complex would be a state-of-the-art training center for police officers, firefighters, and other first responders. Supporters argued that it would improve the quality of training and boost police morale.
Critics, however, saw it as a boondoggle. The price tag for the center was over $90 million, and opponents argued that the money could be better spent on social programs. There were also concerns about the environmental impact of building on wetlands and the lack of transparency in the decision-making process. Overall, opponents claimed that the center would only serve to further militarize the police force and exacerbate existing inequalities.
The protest movement against Cop City began in earnest in 2020 when construction began on the site. Activists set up camps near the construction site, calling for the project to be shut down. Tortuguita, a member of the Queer Liberation Army and an advocate for environmental justice, quickly became a prominent figure among the protesters.
On January 18th, however, the protests took a deadly turn. The Georgia State Patrol raided the camps, claiming that they were impeding construction. According to the official police report, Trooper Jacob Thompson fired the shot that killed Tortuguita because they refused to obey orders to leave and pointed a BB gun at one of the troopers. However, witnesses dispute this narrative, stating that Tortuguita's hands were raised when they were shot.
The investigation into Tortuguita's death has been controversial, with the family accusing the Georgia Bureau of Investigation of a cover-up. They also allege that the prosecutor's decision not to charge the troopers was predetermined and based on flawed evidence. The family has launched a campaign demanding justice for Tortuguita and calling for greater transparency in police investigations.
The controversy surrounding Cop City and Tortuguita's death is about more than just one activist or one training center. It's about the systemic issues in our society that allow police violence and environmental destruction to continue unchecked. The fight for justice for Tortuguita is part of a larger movement for police accountability and environmental justice that spans the country.
