Elizabeth Vos reports on the controversial Cop City training facility in Atlanta, which is set to begin operations soon despite opposition. The facility, costing over $110 million, includes a mock city, military vet training center, and other training grounds. The project has faced backlash from activists and environmental organizations.
The announcement of the Cop City training center in 2021 sparked protests, with activists occupying the South River Forest to resist the authoritarian implications of the facility. The protests have been met with aggressive responses from authorities, leading to arrests and even a fatal shooting of a protester. State prosecutors have indicted 61 protesters under RICO statutes, criminalizing political protest.
The Atlanta Police Foundation, a nonprofit organization, is the main funder of the Cop City project and has ties to powerful corporate players. The project is also linked to pro-Israel interests through programs like the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange, which facilitates training trips to Israel. Critics argue that the facility’s connection to Israeli training methods and its size raise concerns about the militarization of policing in the U.S.
