‘Cop City’ opposition spreads beyond Georgia forest defenders

"The DeKalb county commissioner, Ted Terry, whose district includes the South River forest, and #environmentalist Jackie Echols, of the South River #Watershed Alliance, say they have been rebuffed or ignored in attempts to have the county reject #Atlanta’s applications for permits to begin construction of the training center, due to alleged violations of the #CleanWaterAct the project would incur.

"The county approved the “land disturbance permit” anyway last week. The Atlanta mayor, Andre Dickens, and the DeKalb county CEO, Michael Thurmond, held a press conference without advising Terry of the decision in advance. “I’m being boxed out of the process,” said Terry, a former state director of the #SierraClub.

"Dickens and Thurmond referred several times to a committee meant to represent communities surrounding the forest, which are mostly #Black, with large shares of #LowIincome residents. [#EnvironmentalRacism]

"But the permit approval led a member of the same committee to file an appeal seeking to stop the project this week, also calling it a violation of the Clean Water Act.

"Meanwhile, another member has resigned in protest of the killing of #Tortuguita.
Manuel Esteban Paez Terán.
‘#Assassinated in cold blood’: activist killed protesting #Georgia’s ‘#CopCity’

"Tortuguita had been staying in South River forest for about six months, at times in tree houses, when dozens of officers swept through the forest on 18 January. The activist was one of dozens of “forest defenders” who formed part of a loose coalition of people trying to protect the forest.

"At least 85 acres of the #forest 
 is under threat from the training center, while another 40 acres is under threat from Ryan Millsap, former owner of Blackhall Film Studios, who made a deal with DeKalb county to swap the forest land for another parcel."

#SaveWeelauneeForest #StopCopCity 

Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/09/cop-city-opposition-georgia