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John,
We’re witnessing frightening examples of a national trend to militarize police and to silence dissent.
In Georgia, police shot and killed an activist known as Tortuguita with at least 57 bullets. Tortuguita was sitting in an Atlanta forest to protest the building of “Cop City,” a new training center for militarized police.
The officers involved in this brutal murder have not been charged. However, in an outrageous attempt to silence our constitutionally-protected right to dissent, Georgia officials have charged Cop City protesters with domestic terrorism.
If found guilty, the activists could face up to 35 years in prison—for such “crimes” as having mud on their shoes, sleeping in a forest, and “standing next to signs for anarchy.”1 And many are being held in prison without bail.
Sign the petition to Georgia’s Attorney General: Drop the terrorism charges against Cop City protesters!
Thank you. Please feel free to check out yesterday’s email with some more information.
In solidarity,
Rashida
1 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/31/georgia-cop-city-activists-prosecutors
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rashida Tlaib
Date: Sat, May 6, 2023
Subject: [sign now] Stop criminalizing dissent!
To: [email protected]
John,
Georgia decision-makers are trying to take away our First Amendment right to protest.
Activists have been protesting attempts to build a $90 million training center for militarizing police, which would include a fake city for police to practice militarized tactics against civilians. Known as Cop City, the project would destroy a forest and devastate the watershed upon which nearby Black communities depend—communities who already face the brunt of police violence.
At least 42 people, including a legal observer, have been charged with domestic terrorism for being associated with protests against Cop City.1 The charges carry a sentence of up to 35 years in prison.
With nearly no evidence and bogus charges (like mud on their shoes, sleeping in a forest, and “standing next to signs for anarchy”), the state is keeping these activists locked up without bail.
Sign the petition to tell Georgia’s Attorney General Chris Carr: Stop criminalizing dissent. Drop the terrorism and felony charges against Cop City protesters!
Recent autopsies confirmed that one of the activists, known as “Tortuguita,” was executed in a hail of at least 57 bullets from cops who lied about Tortuguita shooting first. Tortuguita was shot while sitting with their arms raised.2
None of the officers involved in this unconscionable murder have been charged. Meanwhile, some activists were recently arrested for posting flyers that named one of the police officers who murdered Tortuguita.3 For simply telling the truth, those activists have been held without bail and in solitary confinement, charged with an outrageous felony (“intimidation of an officer of the state”).
This extreme police overreach is an unconstitutional attempt to silence dissent, which violates our First Amendment rights and is meant to intimidate others from joining this movement against police violence.
Human rights groups sent a letter to Georgia’s Attorney General and other officials, calling to drop the charges.4 Let’s show even more public support for these activists, for our right to protest, and for true justice and public safety.
Sign the petition to tell Georgia’s Attorney General: Drop the terrorism and felony charges against Cop City protesters!
Thank you, and please continue to speak up about this. Together, let’s stand with the activists righteously protesting Cop City, and with all people who want to live without the fear of police violence.
In solidarity,
Rashida
1 https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7bg8b/exclusive-we-spoke-to-stop-cop-city-activists-facing-terrorism-charges
2 https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/autopsy-cop-city-protester-manuel-teran-death
3 https://theintercept.com/2023/05/02/cop-city-activists-arrest-flyers/
4 https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/03/03/letter-calling-dropping-domestic-terrorism-charges-against-defend-atlanta-forest
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