Dear Friend,
Have you heard about “Cop City,” a proposed mock city in Atlanta? If constructed, Cop City would be one of the largest militarized police training centers in the U.S.—all built by clear-cutting the city’s largest green space. Similar projects are in planning stages around the country.
AFSC is part of a coalition in Atlanta that has been working to put Cop City to a vote. All summer we knocked on doors and tabled at community events. Earlier this fall, we helped deliver nearly double the number of signatures required for a referendum. As expected, we are facing legal challenges, voter suppression techniques, and more, and our coalition is now working to hold the city to a fair process.
In the meantime, there is more we can do. Only part of the funding for the Atlanta Police Foundation is coming from the city budget. The rest is coming from dozens of corporations, including many you’d recognize, such as UPS, Home Depot, and Delta Airlines. Will you join us in urging CEOs to stop backing the Atlanta Police Foundation, which is spearheading Cop City?
Prisons and policing do not keep us safe. They don't prevent violence, and they don't help survivors of harm heal. Instead, they perpetuate inequality. They undermine human and civil rights. And they divert funds from essential services and community-led programs that are more effective. That’s a message these CEOs need to hear.
Corporations should not be partnering with private police foundations to militarize and police our communities. They are not accountable to the public. We need to stop Cop City in Atlanta, and we need to keep it from becoming a model for other cities, too. To improve community safety, it makes much more sense to invest in education, job opportunities, and trained specialists who can help people overcome addiction, treat mental health issues, and navigate other challenges.
Please join us in sending a message to CEOs today.
Thank you for supporting our efforts!
In solidarity,
Tim Franzen
Atlanta Economic Justice Program Director
