Stop Cop City Activists Respond to Police Violence and Brutalization of Trans Women Who Scaled and Locked-Down to Brasfield & Gorrie Crane

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 29, 2024

Stop Cop City Activists Respond to Police Violence and Brutalization of Trans Women Who Scaled and Locked-Down to Brasfield & Gorrie Crane

ATLANTA, GA — Community members, activists, and friends of the two trans women who were arrested at a Stop Cop City protest protest earlier this week are decrying the violence, brutal treatment, and transmisogyny that the two faced from the Atlanta Police Department, Fulton County Sheriffs, and correctional officers while in custody.

On Wednesday, the protesters scaled and locked themselves onto a crane at a Brasfield & Gorrie construction site, shutting down work at the site for several hours. Brasfield & Gorrie is one of the top contractors and financial contributors to Cop City and the Atlanta Police Foundation. This was the third protest of its kind against the contractor, with demands that they “Drop Cop City” contracts.

Activists report that the two trans women protesters were subjected to violent treatment after being arrested, including:

• Being shackled to a wall for 10 hours, with three of their limbs in restraints
• No access to water for at least 10 hours
• No access to a working toilet
• At least 12 hours with no access to their medication and gender-affirming care
• Being held in solidarity confinement
• Being forced to change their gender marker on intake forms
• Imposing a felony charge of false imprisonment, and being held on a bond of $30,000 each

The disturbing reports come on the heels of multiple anti-trans bills being passed in the Georgia State Senate. Organizers say that this violence and repression against trans people will only be exacerbated by the controversial Cop City project.

“Anyone who sees the brutality with which people are being treated in the Fulton County Jail can stand up and say ‘no more, this stops now!’” said Reverend Darci Jaret. “As Christians, people of faith, people of conscious, we look at what is happening now and we can see clearly that the policing and carceral system perpetuate the violence that they claim they to combat,” continued Rev. Jaret. “This is what we mean when we say Stop Cop City.”

“Our collective efforts have delayed Cop City’s construction far past the original completion date,” said Jasmine Burnett, a community organizer in Atlanta. “This resistance is costing them money and showing that they don’t have unilateral control over this city,” continued Burnett. “That is why they are trying so hard to repress this movement and demonize anyone who participates in it. But we are fighting for the people of Atlanta, for a free Atlanta—and we will not stop until that day comes.”

“We are disgusted, enraged, and shaken by the violence displayed by APD and Fulton County,” said a Drop Cop City organizer. “But one thing we are not is deterred. These reports only reaffirm the need to take direct action to Stop Cop City and organize for a world free from police and prisons.”

Stop Cop City organizers are hosting a press conference today at 1 p.m. at the entrance of the Cop City construction site on Constitution Road to respond to the situation. There will be speakers and a rally, as well as spokespeople available for interviews.

The press conference will take place during the weekly “Forest Friday” picket protest. Forest Fridays have been taking place outside the facility every week for several months and is organized by the Weelaunee Coalition.

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