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Opposition to massive training facility for |
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Rob DiRienzo, Fox 5 News Atlanta
"Increased policing and surveillance in Atlanta is not going to solve the structural problems," said Kelsea Bell, of the Atlanta chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.
The group behind "Stop Cop City" argues that the facility would be a waste of land and resources. Meanwhile, other residents say police need all the help they can get amid a surge in violent crime across the city.
"I am terrified to go get gas," one resident said during the public comment portion of a recent Atlanta city council meeting. "I am terrified to go to Lenox Mall because I’m afraid I’m going to be robbed. I’m afraid my car is going to get stolen."
Bell argued that the solution to violent crime is diverting resources away from the police and into social services and community outreach.
The proposal the city council is considering would lease the land to the Atlanta Police Foundation. They would use roughly $80 million of their own money to build the training campus that would be for both police and firefighters.
"This facility is going to be four times larger than the NYPD training facility," said Shafeka Hashash, co-chair of the Atlanta DSA. "It just seems grossly unnecessary, it’s not what’s being asked for and it’s not addressing root causes. […] Violence doesn’t occur because of poor training."
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TAKE ACTION TODAY! |
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TODAY is the day to make our voices heard: Call in and tell our public servants to STOP COP CITY! (And join us Sat the 17th @10am at 2250 Bouldercrest Rd for the next canvass!) |
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Research shows that weapons testing at new police training facility could expose the public to toxic chemicals, contaminate urban farm and South River |
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By Wayne Butler, Mainline Zine
According to APF’s official renderings, the training facility will include an explosives testing site and a shooting range. If approved by the city, these weapons testing sites would be uphill from an unnamed tributary of Intrenchment Creek which drains into the endangered South River. Using a publicly available tool from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), this report provides evidence that runoff from these weapons testing sites would flow into the stream, as well as through the “urban farm” proposed in the APF’s own plans. This means people who eat produce from this farm and fish from the South River could be exposed to heavy metals and other toxic chemicals from police munitions. These plans reflect a long-term pattern of negligence by police, local governments, and their corporate backers who ignore their own pollution and put the public at risk due to conflicts of interest. City Council is planning to lease 300+ acres of forested land to the Atlanta Police Foundation for the purpose of building a massive, privately funded cop training facility.
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Friday night: Celebrate Mainline Zine's birthday @ Argosy |
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#seize-the-memes |
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Join us on Slack |
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Not finding what you're looking for here? If you’re a member, you’ve got access to the Slack channel. (Email [email protected] if you have questions about your access to the Slack). There’s no faster way to get plugged in to committees, working groups, and find answers to your questions. |
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