Plans to build Cop City have been mired in controversy and civil rights violations from the beginning—from the city government’s attempts to ignore residents’ and activists’ objections and force through the construction of Cop City in Atlanta’s ecologically vital Weelaunee Forest, to police raiding an encampment of peaceful protestors and murdering one of them, Manuel (“Tortuguita”) Esteban Paez Terán, who was shot 57 times, to the truly Orwellian crackdown on protestors and advocates, dozens of whom are being arrested and charged with “domestic terrorism.”
As Micah Herskind writes, “The struggle to Stop Cop City is not just a battle over the creation of a $90 million police urban warfare center. It’s not just a fight to protect the 381 acres of forest land, known as one of the “four lungs” of Atlanta, currently under threat of destruction. It’s not just a conflict over how the city invests the over $30 million it has pledged to the project, to be supplemented by at least $60 million in private funding. The movement is all of those things. But even more fundamentally, the struggle to Stop Cop City is a battle for the future of Atlanta. It’s a struggle over who the city is for: the city’s corporate and state ruling class actors who have demanded that Cop City be built, or the people of Atlanta who have consistently voiced their opposition and demanded a different vision for the city.” Make no mistake, though, the fight to Stop Cop City is all of our fight, and that very much includes the labor movement. In this episode of the Working People podcast, TRNN Editor-in-Chief Maximillian Alvarez speaks with Kamau Franklin and Mariah Parker about Cop City, the fight to stop it, and why labor needs to get off the sidelines and join that fight.
Kamau Franklin has been a dedicated community organizer for over thirty years, beginning in New York City and now based in Atlanta. He is also a lawyer, writer, and the founder of Community Movement Builders, Inc. Mariah Parker is labor and community organizer, a rapper (known by the stage name Linqua Franqa), and recently served as District 2 County Commissioner for Athens-Clarke County in Athens, Georgia, from 2018 – 2022.
Post-Production: Jules Taylor
For additional links/info and to read the transcript, click here:
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#StopCopCity #CopCity #police #labor
** (Disclaimer: This video content is intended for educational and informational purposes only) **
I was on a Zoom call this week with the Stop Cop City movement and Cornel West, and did a video on it on my channel. I think to succeed in shutting this down and prevent it from happening in other cities we need to be talking about how to build a broad coalition of dissenters and get it across how and why projects like this are bad for everyone. Nothing mobilizes people like feeling their own interests are threatened. And in this case, they are. All of us are threatened by this, and it's only going to get worse. It needs to be in every American's consciousness that police are the enforcement arm of capital and the are not here to protect citizens.
America spreads fascism around the world. American empire was BUILT on fascism NEVER WAS a democracy..
The Great Zionist Leviathan has their homicidal fingerprints on Cop City
The elites are serious about taking over and making slaves. People need to realize that. It may already be too late.
This is what happens when we worship corrupt politicians. Elections have consequences.
See if Labor gets involved they are going to ask you why you don't do anything about criminals killing people and only concentrate on cops killing one another.
Blue Lives Matter
People have to be trained in order to kill other people. It's something learned, not inherent.
Since the police have been handcuffed how has the Streets and violence been lately? What real news? No the working Class doesn't want more untrained asshole cops!!The progressive way of dealing with problems are the stupidest in History! I love how you use the working class,yet every progressive you talk to is some entitled spoiled never worked a day in there life Academic!! Oppressed? Go to China!! What is oppressed not being able to buy new sneakers every day?? Protesting and damaging and attacking people are a different charge's!!
You can't fight something and at the same time use it's language
They are training to take control of the people
Cop city will be hiring and recruiting more cops that will strengthen their organization reinforcing their militarized police state to control the population. They are not interested in our rights. Stop this project or we will never be free again
Can't be built with no workers!!!
Looking forward to Dr. Cornel West getting all of you on-board for collaborative leadership in his Cabinet â—ï¸
IF A CITIZEN KILLS SOMEONE HE WILL GO TO JAIL… DONE.
IF A POLICEMAN KILLS A CITIZEN:
1- The police department will try to cover up the crime
2- When the covering fails, the policeman will send on a paid leave
3- And after convicting the policeman, the PD will ask for more money & resources under the pretext of training
WHAT THEY WILL BE TRAINING FOR?
On How to Pinning People to the Ground in a painful way
On How to Shoot to kill
On How to Disperse the Demonstrations
On How to Cover each other & Hide Evidence
On How To Breaking down doors
On How to Jump from armored vehicles
On How to Break into Homes
Concerns of people!
FTP!
These people are terrorists. They physically assault, vandalize and threaten anyone who doesn't agree with them. They don't just attack cops. They attack innocent people. If you donate to them then you're supporting domestic terrorism.
Big labor isn't the answer. Immigrants pushed the unions in the '20's they were from Europe comprised of Socialists,Communists and Anarchists. The Pullman strike led by Eugene Debs was betrayed by Samuel Gompers AFL. Hierarchy co-opts good people.
The answer is YOU the working class people, ask Chris Smalls.
Action… hmmm Coke Bottling Owns Atlanta
I already feel safer. this city has fallen hard the past 30 years. Be nice to be able to go to Waffle House again without being armed.
One thing we can do is stop calling it the sugar-coated name 'Cop City'; what they are building is a militarized fortress for rapid deployment.
As important as this is—I'm totally against Cop City, of course—I wonder about the strategy of leftist movements. I feel like many leftist activists tend to focus on big flashy projects like this to the detriment of what's going on in their communities. Not a hot take, I'm sure, but just had to say it.
The system is preparing to cancel the constitution , I believe . That being the case my advise is get your guns , get your ammo , and get ready .
When you make it about race i am out.
CopLand! It is a fun place for tyrants to enjoy training on how to murder innocent people.
Provide decent schools and community centers – NOT police infrastructure. Cop City is emblematic of America's spiritual and intellectual decline.
The Last thing America needs is another "Training Facility" when cops already think they're above the law, & only learn more about Police Brutality.
Isn't it a goddamn shame that you have to build a community outside and separate from the one that surrounds you? I am an old white guy and and I empathize with all your efforts. I am also much chagrined that you have to struggle the way you do.
Fascism looms over the land, and way too few can see it coming. It is an unexpected "blessing" to be an old man.
It came to my mind hearing the conversation. Immigrants will take over when they arrest us all that are knowing.
Watch the Robocop franchise
Im pushing back and organizing against Mission Housing Development. Cop city will be everywhere if we can’t stop the growth of this military idealism push against our community.
I have been a blind police supporter for most my 68 years, that changed when I had a personal exchange with a bad police officer and started viewing Long Island Audits. We need police training, not on urban warfare, rather for Constitutional rights.
People need to ask WHY?!?! Are we to think it is OK for police to riddle innocents with 50 bullets. our president spends money on two things: military and police and we do not get asked, we are told. IF we even try to have a discussion we can be labeled a Domestic Terrorist. We are brainwashed into thinking we were the best nation on earth and the best constitution. lies lies lies. We have always stolen and enslaved others throughout our history. $ is our God. Our history is covered up but other countries know and they are all cutting us off. Before it is too late can we stop this madness and spend money on education, healthcare, and caring for the earth animals and people? otherwise we will be shunned by the world.