FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 11, 2023
Atlanta Loses Bid for 2024 Democratic National Convention as City Leaders Continue Undemocratic Push to Build Cop City
ATLANTA, GA — The Democratic National Committee has selected Chicago as the host city for the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC). The decision came as a shock to many, as Atlanta was widely considered to be the favorite to host the major event. But shock evaded those who have watched the lack of leadership Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has displayed in responding to Cop City protests, where the first US climate activist, Manuel “Tortugita” Esteban Páez Terán was murdered by police on January 18, 2023.
Mayor Dickens and a coalition of Atlanta boosters had spent months urging President Biden to select Atlanta as the site for the 2024 DNC. Dickens had reportedly traveled to Washington, D.C. multiple times to pitch President Biden on Atlanta as the host site.
However, as protests rage in Atlanta over the city’s attempt to destroy at least 85 acres of forest land and to build the largest urban warfare center in the nation, Atlanta residents were not as enthused about the DNC.
In March 2023, a coalition was formed to reject Mayor Dickens’ campaign to bring the 2024 DNC to Atlanta until he cancels plans to build Cop City.
In Atlanta leaders’ push to build Cop City, a protester has been killed by police and 42 people have been charged with domestic terrorism, in a move that has been widely denounced by human rights and free speech experts.
“The repression of protected speech is clearly bad for business,” said Keyanna Jones, an organizer with Community Movement Builders. “Atlanta officials continue to compromise the city’s future and ability to attract major events by investing in unpopular and undemocratic projects like Cop City,” continued Jones. “What else are they willing to sacrifice?”
More information is available at: https://nodncinatl.com.
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