Battle of Atlanta "Police City"
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On the morning of January 18, during a routine police operation to remove protesters from the site of a future training facility dubbed “Cop City” in the wooded suburbs of Atlanta, shots were fired. When the smoke cleared, one worker was killed and a state trooper was injured. Questions about what happened have made the case a flashpoint in the national debate about policing and environmental activism.
The killing of Manuel Esteban Pez Terran, a “guardian of the jungle” known as Tortogueta (or Little Tortoise in Spanish), has raised many questions among activists. Protests against the killing have resulted in a pushback from law enforcement and supporters.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has said the shooting was not recorded on body cameras. Police said the gun used in the shooting against the soldier was purchased by Teran in September 2020. On Wednesday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced that a special prosecutor would be assigned to review the case, but critics are calling for an independent investigation.
In recent days, protesters have descended on Atlanta, and at times have been chaotic, leading to numerous arrests. On Thursday, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp A state of emergency was called ahead of more possible anti-police protests later this week.
Mistrust and anger on both sides has been rampant.
“The official narrative is that ‘Cop City’ is necessary to make Atlanta ‘safe,’ but this brutal murder shows what they mean when they use that word,” Defend the Atlanta Forest, A grassroots organization that has led protests against internment. The center said in a statement after the shooting.