FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 12, 2023
Stop Cop City Activists Announce Mass Nonviolent Direct Action to Block Construction and Defend the Atlanta Forest
ATLANTA, GA — A broad group of activists and organizations are announcing a mass nonviolent direct action in November to block the ongoing construction of Cop City. The action aims to bring thousands of people to the forest from Atlanta and across the country to carry on this city’s rich legacy of civil disobedience. In the wake of fabricated RICO charges, and inspired by bold direct action by members of the faith coalition and the historic delivery of 116,000 petition signatures to the city clerk, the Block Cop City Coalition recognizes that mass action is necessary to enforce the People’s Stop Work Order.
Cop City opponents near and far are mobilizing to take matters into their own hands through this collective action. In the lead-up to November, activists will visit over 70 cities around the continent in an expansive speaking tour to mobilize and prepare thousands of people for the action. The tour will provide updates from ground zero, share strategic intelligence on the pivot towards mass action, and invite folks to travel to Atlanta in November to #BlockCopCity.
The convergence is planned for November 10-13 and will feature two days of public direct action trainings, discussions, assemblies, and other events throughout the city, including a large concert and rally. These events will culminate in a march on the construction site, where forest defenders will shut down all ongoing construction operations and demand an end to the widely-opposed project.
“With shameless contempt for democracy, the APF is racing to build Cop City, a deeply unpopular project, before the people can cancel its lease at the ballot box,” said Mariah Parker, movement educator and Stop Cop City organizer. “This People’s Stop Work Order, standing firm in Atlanta’s legacy of militant, strategic non-violence, invites all people impacted by environmental injustice and police supremacy to have the final say in the matter of Cop City.”
Through an unprecedented juridical campaign of trumped-up felony charges underpinned by police violence and murder, law enforcement agencies and city officials have attempted to instill fear in all who are called to protect the Earth, defend the Weelaunee Forest, and prioritize communities over policing. Instead of intimidating us, these acts of repression have only energized the movement further. We look forward to the bold, decisive action in November, along with all of the other tactics that activists will deploy in the meantime.
Cop City will never be built!
Learn more at https://blockcopcity.org/
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