FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 4, 2026
Nine #StopCopCity RICO Defendants Move to Dismiss Unindicted Domestic Terrorism Charges at March 6 Hearing in DeKalb Superior Court
Three Years After Being Arrested and With the Recent Dismissal of RICO Charges on Appeal by AG Chris Carr, Defendants Say “Enough is Enough!”
ATLANTA, GA – More than three years after dozens of #StopCopCity protesters were arrested on domestic terrorism charges, at least nine defendants are moving to dismiss those unindicted charges in DeKalb County Superior Court in a motions hearing on March 6 at 9am. The nine, who are part of the group of 61 defendants indicted on Racketeering (RICO) charges in Fulton County in August 2023, were also arrested on domestic terrorism charges in late 2022 and early 2023, but never indicted. On December 30, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kevin Farmer dismissed the RICO charges against all 61 defendants, a decision that was appealed by Attorney General Chris Carr in January.
What: Hearing for #StopCopCity defendants on dismissal of unindicted domestic terrorism charges
When: Friday, March 6, 2026 at 9am
Where: Courtroom 5B, DeKalb County Courthouse, 556 N. McDonough Street, Decatur, GA 30030
* Media can view the proceedings via Zoom at: https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/87914354433
(Meeting ID: 879 1435 4433 / Passcode: 476240)
“For three years now, this extreme charge has been held over my head by the Attorney General’s office, causing irreparable harm to me and my family,” said Alex Papali, one of the RICO defendants who is moving to dismiss his domestic terrorism charge in DeKalb County. “With the politically motivated RICO conspiracy case collapsing in Fulton County, it’s high time this unindicted DeKalb charge is now dismissed as well.”
Six defendants, including Papali, have also filed motions to modify their bond conditions, such as travel restrictions and no-contact orders with other defendants, which have been in place since their arrest three years ago. At least two defendants have filed motions to assert their constitutional speedy trial rights, and additional defendants who have filed motions to dismiss will have hearings on future dates.
#StopCopCity defendants April Beamon, Maggie Gates, Priscilla Grim, Teresa Shen, and Sarah Wasilewski are moving to dismiss their domestic terrorism charges based on violations of their due process and constitutional speedy trial rights. Gates and Grim are also moving to dismiss their charges on the grounds that Georgia’s domestic terrorism statute was unconstitutionally adopted. Gates filed a third motion to dismiss, which argues that Georgia’s domestic terrorism statute is vague and overbroad, in violation of her consitutional rights. Other defendants whose motions to dismiss will be heard on March 6 include Emma Bogush, Alex Papali, and Christopher Reynolds.
“Our position is that the Georgia Attorney General is violating my clients’ rights through a vague and overbroad domestic terrorism statute, sending a message that political dissent will not be tolerated in the state,” said Xavier T. de Janon, who is representing Beamon, Gates, and Grimm. “These old warrants, once portrayed as extremely urgent, have caused significant harm to people’s lives. We hope the Court takes action, since the State has not for almost three years.”
The motions hearing will take place one day after the three-year anniversary of the South River Music Fest, the event at which 23 people were arrested on domestic terrorism charges. Six of the charges being challenged at the March 6 hearing stem from those March 5, 2023 arrests.
The 61 RICO defendants, who were arrested on different dates from 2020 to 2023 at various locations across Georgia, have had their lives upended as a result of the felony charges. Many defendants have experienced job losses, housing issues, career disruptions, and travel restrictions, in addition to the stress and anxiety that comes from the threat of years in prison hanging over their heads.
Over 170 people have been arrested so far during protests against Cop City. The facility was completed last year despite mass opposition from Atlanta residents, including a multi-year campaign with a wide range of tactics by environmentalists, abolitionists, students, teachers, anarchists, Indigenous activists, faith leaders and others. A 2023 ballot initiative petition effort to put Cop City to a direct vote by Atlanta residents collected over 116,000 signatures, more than double the votes that Mayor Andre Dickens received in 2021, but local officials refused to verify the signatures.
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For more information on the sweeping criminal cases, and ways to support the defendants and the movement to Stop Cop City, go to: weelauneethefree.org.
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