["Tortuguitas crime was defending a forest in the heart of
Atlanta—yet police moved in full force to evict the encampment,
using their usual litany of brutal tactics," said one activist. ]
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INDEPENDENT PROBE DEMANDED AFTER POLICE KILL FOREST DEFENDER
“TORTUGUITA” IN GEORGIA  
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Brett Wilkins
January 20, 2023
Common Dreams [[link removed]]

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_ "Tortuguita's 'crime' was defending a forest in the heart of
Atlanta—yet police moved in full force to evict the encampment,
using their usual litany of brutal tactics," said one activist. _

Manuel Teran, aka "Tortuguita"—"Little Turtle"—was shot and
killed by police outside Atlanta, Georgia on January 18, 2022.,
(Photo: Unicorn Riot)

 

Police accountability advocates on Thursday called for an independent
investigation after an activist was shot and killed during a
multi-jurisdictional law enforcement raid on a forest encampment
blocking the construction of a massive police training center just
outside Atlanta popularly known as Cop City.
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_The Atlanta Journal-Constitution _reports
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Details surrounding the deadly encounter near the planned site of
Atlanta's public safety center continued to trickle out Thursday, as a
wounded state trooper recovered and left-wing activists both mourned a
fallen comrade and questioned the official account of events.

At least seven other people, meanwhile, were arrested and charged with
domestic terrorism in connection with Wednesday's law enforcement
operation in the southern DeKalb County woods.

Activists tied to the "Defend the Forest" movement identified the
person killed by law enforcement—after allegedly firing at troopers
first—as Manuel Teran, aka "Tortuguita." Online posts described
Teran as a "beloved member of the community" who split time between
Atlanta and Florida.

"We are devastated by the loss of our friend who was killed by the
police. Tortuguita was a kind, passionate, and loving person,
cherished by their community," said
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statement published on the _Atlanta Community Press
Collective _website.

"We don't know what happened yesterday," the statement acknowledged,
adding that Teran was killed while "defending the forest."

According to
[[link removed]]_Unicorn
Riot_, "throughout the day and into the night, efforts to extract
forest defenders from the trees continued, with arborists cutting down
trees and tree houses in an effort to remove protesters."

Jeff Ordower, North America director at the climate action group
350.org, said in a statement Thursday, "With heavy hearts, we stand
with the Atlanta Forest Defenders and all of those who defend the
land, the water, and the planet."

"Tortuguita's 'crime' was defending a forest in the heart of
Atlanta—yet police moved in full force to evict the encampment,
using their usual litany of brutal tactics," he added. "As we've seen
all too often with police brutality, we can expect the usual false
claims of 'self-defense,' coupled with an attempt to smear the victim
and movement. Our movement will continue to stand up for
intersectional justice—for the people and the planet."

In an Instagram post, the activist group Stop Cop City said
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continue to fight to protect the forest and stop Cop City with love,
rage, and a commitment to each other's safety and well-being."

The Atlanta Police Foundation, a private organization, was given
permission
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2021 to build Cop City, a $90 million, 85-acre police and fire
training facility in the Weelaunee Forest in DeKalb County on land
stolen from the Muscogee people, many of whom were forced westward
during the genocidal Trail of Tears period.

In 2017, the area was designated one of four "city lungs" by the
Atlanta City Planning Department, which recommended the forest become
a massive urban park. Instead, Cop City was approved.

_Brett Wilkins is a staff writer for Common Dreams._

_Common Dreams is a reader-supported independent news outlet created
in 1997 as a new media model.  Our nonprofit newsroom covers the most
important news stories of the moment. Common Dreams free online
journalism keeps our millions of readers well-informed, inspired, and
engaged.  We are optimists. We believe real change is possible. But
only if enough well-informed, well-intentioned—and just plain fed up
and fired-up—people demand it. We believe that together we can
attain our common dreams._

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supported._

* Environmental Activism
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* police violence
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* police accountability
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* Atlanta
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