Atlanta police and rescue teams removed two activists who had climbed onto a tower crane at the construction site for a police and firefighter training facility known as Cop City. The facility has drawn criticism over concerns that it could lead to militarization of the police force, which is largely impoverished. black area.
Crews scaled the tower to reach the two protesters, whom Atlanta police called “anarchists” in a social media post.
In a post on Stated.
Police body camera footage showed a man and woman high up on the tower crane with their hands duct-taped to a metal pole.
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Two Atlanta protesters are cut off from a tower crane at a Cop City construction site. (Atlanta Police Department)
People could be heard shouting from below: “We see you, we love you,” as officers wearing cameras tried to reason with them.
“If they love you, they won’t leave you 100 feet in the air,” the officer said. “I’ll be honest, I get it. So it’s not love. Love is safe. Love is caring. Love is kind. You’ll still be able to push for the goals you’re trying to get.” That’s what we should do. ”
He goes on to tell them that falling backwards out of a crane is not love.
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Two Atlanta protesters are cut off from a tower crane at a Cop City construction site. (Atlanta Police Department)
As he spoke to the two activists, the woman’s head continued to nod back and forth, appearing confused and unconcerned.
The officers warned the two that their job was to free them and take them to the base of the tower.
The next shot shows the crew using a tarp to cover the woman and using a circular saw to cut the woman’s arm from the structure.
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Crews cut protesters off a tower crane at the construction site for Cop City, Atlanta’s new public training facility. (Atlanta Police Department)
Once freed, the woman appears to be cooperating with the crew, and then the man is seen being freed.
Wednesday’s protest was just another example of some people’s disdain for a new police and firefighter training center being built just outside Atlanta’s city limits in DeKalb County.
Protests against the facility have been ongoing for more than two years.
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Two Atlanta protesters are cut off from a tower crane at a Cop City construction site. (Atlanta Police Department)
Prosecutors have characterized the protest as a conspiracy, alleging it led to potential crimes such as possessing accelerants and throwing Molotov cocktails at police officers.
Opponents say the facility could lead to further militarization of police and that building in South River Forest would exacerbate environmental damage in the poor, majority-Black neighborhood.
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Meanwhile, Atlanta city officials and other supporters say the 85-acre, $90 million facility will replace inadequate training facilities and help the department recruit and retain officers.
Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.
