The governor of Georgia has declared a state of emergency following violent protests in Atlanta. Demonstrators have been gathering in the city for months, but tensions have flared up after a police officer shot and killed an environmental activist who had reportedly fired a gun at a state trooper.
At the center of the recent clash is an upcoming training complex that activists have dubbed “Cop City.” Officially known as the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, the massive state-of-the-art project envisions a mock village complete with a shooting range, training props and a burn building to train federal and state police. Officials say the $90 million development revolutionizes law enforcement training.
However, opponents call it a center for police to practice “urban warfare,” according to The Associated Press. The opposition is prompting activists from around the country to fly in and occupy the surrounding forests in protest. They argue that the entire concept of the complex will exacerbate police violence against minorities and harm the environment with the cutting down of trees and potential chemical runoff from testing different weapons. This has resulted in repeated clashes between police and so-called “forest defenders.”
The recent emergency declaration will allow Gov. Brian Kemp to call up to 1,000 National Guard troops until Feb. 9 to respond to incidents of civil unrest.
