In light of recent events, many protests have spanned the city of Atlanta, Georgia in connection with the future build of what is now being named “Cop City.” These protests have led to the death of a local medic among the environmental activists by the hands of the police. Many are calling for change across social media.

“The Atlanta Police Foundation is building a police militarization facility for police to train in urban warfare,” according to the Stop Cop City movement’s official online platform, on the first page of their website. “The plans include military-grade training facilities, a mock-city to practice urban warfare, dozens of shooting ranges, and a Black Hawk helicopter landing pad.”

Thousands of people gathered on Jan. 21 to protest the future build of “Cop City” in hopes of bringing light to the situation. Instead, what was meant to be a call for change turned into a violent dispute between protestors and cops dressed in military grade gear, leading to the death of 26-year-old Manuel Esteban Paez Teran. As well as this, an officer was gravely injured during the altercation.

Police stated in regards to the killing of Teran that the young protester was within a tent in the surrounding woods and refused to comply with officers’ orders. Teran supposedly then shot and injured a police officer. Teran was immediately killed. 

Although this is the official statement from police, other protestors have been disputing such claims stating that “defenders on the ground… heard a round of 12 shots fired all at once around 9:04 AM.” If this such statement is true, it directly contradicts the idea that the police and Teran engaged in back and forth firing, leading to the death of Teran.

“We have reason to believe the officer shot today was hit by ‘friendly fire’ and not the protester who was killed,” Defend the Atlanta Forest said via their Twitter account. 

“Do not believe the police and their media,” the account said in another tweet.

Many other protestors shared in these sentiments as the tag #stopcopcity circled throughout Twitter. The slow increase of tension from the months prior regarding these protests catapulted the actions into the spotlight of the media.

If “Cop City” were to be enacted, an empty city would be created for the purpose of practice raids and other forms of Urban warfare. As well as this, “Cop City” would take up almost 400 acres of Georgia forests and would cost nearly $30 million in tax dollars. Along with that, it would cost $60 million from corporate funding, making the whole cost a whopping $90 million.

Corporations such as Chick-Fil-A have helped fund ”Cop City,” even Coca-Cola – who has recently renounced the decision – helped fund the future build.

Not only are people infuriated about the destruction of 400 acres of pure Georgian wildlife, but others call out the absurdity of creating an empty city for police when Atlanta’s percentage makes up ⅓ of Georgia’s homeless population.

Now, after the death of Teran, the protests have intensified and created a mix of people fighting against police force and people fighting against wildlife destruction.

Many living in Atlanta, Georgia fear for the future of their city, as these protests begin to take place at a national level. 

Some protest organizations involved in these demonstrations include Stop Cop City and the Atlanta DSA.