{"id":2023145,"date":"2023-09-06T08:03:01","date_gmt":"2023-09-06T12:03:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/61-indicted-in-georgia-on-racketeering-charges-linked-to-stop-cop-city\/"},"modified":"2023-09-06T08:09:41","modified_gmt":"2023-09-06T12:09:41","slug":"61-indicted-in-georgia-on-racketeering-charges-linked-to-stop-cop-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/61-indicted-in-georgia-on-racketeering-charges-linked-to-stop-cop-city\/","title":{"rendered":"61 individuals in Georgia have been indicted on racketeering charges connected to &#8216;Stop Cop City&#8217;."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2F61-indicted-in-georgia-on-racketeering-charges-linked-to-stop-cop-city%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2023145&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div data-post-content=\"true\" class=\"post_content\" id=\"post_content\">\n<h2>Protesters Indicted on Racketeering Charges for Opposing &#8220;Cop City&#8221; Construction<\/h2>\n<p>At least 61 protesters have been indicted in Georgia on racketeering charges for their actions against the construction of a police and firefighter training facility in Atlanta, derisively called \u201cCop City\u201d by critics.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote>\n<p>The \u2064109-page indictment (<a href=\"https:\/\/law.georgia.gov\/document\/document\/23sc189192-criminal-indictmentpdf\/download\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pdf<\/a>) announced by Republican Attorney General Chris Carr on Sept. 5, was\u2063 handed up by a grand jury on Aug. 29. It \u200ccharges all 61 defendants\u2014most of whom are not from Georgia\u2014with\u200d having violated Georgia&#8217;s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. The law, enacted in \u200d1970, is intended as an enhanced tool to curb organized crime \u200cactivity.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote><\/div>\n<h3>Plot to Halt Construction<\/h3>\n<p>According to the indictment, 61 members of group \u2063called Defend the Atlanta Forest (DAF) had jointly plotted to halt the construction\u200b of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center via coordinated acts of violence, \u200cintimidation, and vandalism in \u2062Fulton \u2064County, elsewhere in the\u2063 state of Georgia, and \u200dother states.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<div class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/div>\n<ul class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<li class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/3-activists-against-atlantas-cop-city-hit-with-money-laundering-charity-fraud-charges-5305779\">3 Activists Against Atlanta&#8217;s &#8216;Cop City&#8217; Hit With Money Laundering, \u2063Charity Fraud \u200dCharges<\/a>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">6\/3\/2023<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/3-activists-against-atlantas-cop-city-hit-with-money-laundering-charity-fraud-charges-5305779\"><\/a>\n        <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<li class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/atlanta-bail-fund-jumps-to-support-arrested-protesters-who-face-domestic-terrorism-charges-in-cop-city-attack-5105478\">Atlanta Bail Fund Jumps to Support Arrested Protesters Who Face Domestic \u2063Terrorism Charges in \u2018Cop City\u2019 Attack<\/a>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">3\/7\/2023<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/atlanta-bail-fund-jumps-to-support-arrested-protesters-who-face-domestic-terrorism-charges-in-cop-city-attack-5105478\"><\/a>\n        <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The $90 million Atlanta Public Safety \u2062Training Center is being built in a forested 85-acre area of DeKalb County in the outskirts of Atlanta \u2062called the South River Forest site. Keisha Lance \u2064Bottoms, the mayor at the time, announced the construction plans in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>The DAF group and other critics backing the &#8220;Stop Cop City&#8221; effort have expressed environmental concerns over the training site, and claimed it could lead to greater militarization of police.<\/p>\n<p>On its website, the \u200cgroup \u200csaid its mission is to protect\u2063 the South River Forest site, which it describes as\u200c &#8220;the lungs of Atlanta.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode post-related-videos\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;The movement to prevent the development of Cop City is a fight against\u2062 hundreds of years of racialized violence and ecological destruction,&#8221; the website says.<\/p>\n<p>In \u200btotal, the 61 defendants are alleged to \u2064have engaged in 225 incidents to prevent the training site from being built. The alleged crimes include criminal\u2062 trespass, vandalism, throwing objects including Molotov cocktails \u200dat\u2063 police, and posting threats on the internet.<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Video footage\u2064 released on March 5, 2023, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/61-indicted-in-georgia-on-racketeering-charges-linked-to-stop-cop-city\/\" title=\"61 individuals in Georgia have been indicted on racketeering charges connected to 'Stop Cop City'.\">shows left-wing rioters throwing fireworks<\/a> \u200band Molotov cocktails \u2064at officers in Atlanta, Georgia. (Atlanta Police Department\/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Many of those indicted had prior charges, with the current RICO \u200dcharges\u200c adding the potential for more severe sentences that can be added \u2063on \u200dtop.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote>\n<p>Among the 61, there \u200care more than three\u200c dozen people already facing \u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/23-face-domestic-terror-charges-over-attack-on-new-georgia-police-training-center-5107077\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">domestic terrorism\u2064 charges<\/a>. There\u2062 are three leaders\u2063 of a bail fund accused of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/3-activists-against-atlantas-cop-city-hit-with-money-laundering-charity-fraud-charges-5305779\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">money laundering<\/a>, as well as three activists charged with felony \u200cintimidation after they distributed flyers about a\u2064 state trooper\u2064 calling him a &#8220;murderer&#8221; for having been involved in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/protesters-abandon-cop-city-camp-after-deadly-police-raid-atlanta-riot-arrests-5007343\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fatal shooting of a protester<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<h2>Authorities\u200c Praise Indictment<\/h2>\n<p>In a separate statement, Mr. Carr\u200c that the indictment shows that\u2064 &#8220;looking the other way when\u2064 violence occurs is not an option in Georgia.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u201cIf you come to our state and shoot a police officer, throw Molotov cocktails at\u200b law\u200d enforcement, set fire to police vehicles, damage construction equipment, vandalize private homes and businesses, and terrorize their occupants, you can and will be \u2062held accountable,&#8221; \u200dhe said. &#8220;We will not waver when it comes to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wis-iowa-take-opposite-approaches-to-coronavirus-measures\/\" title=\"Wis., Iowa take opposite approaches to coronavirus measures\">keeping people safe<\/a>, enforcing the rule of law, and ensuring \u2062those who\u200c engage\u200c in criminal activity\u2063 are vigorously\u200d pursued and aggressively prosecuted.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Republican Gov. Brian Kemp has praised the indictment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy top priority\u200d is \u2063and \u200dalways will be keeping Georgians safe, especially against out-of-state radicals that threaten the safety of our citizens and law enforcement,&#8221; \u2063he said in a statement.<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>An aerial view of the planed site of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center project as the clear cutting of trees\u200b begins at the\u2062 South River Forest near Atlanta, Georgia, on March 31,\u2064 2023. (Cheney Orr\/Reuters)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Clearing of the forested area of the planned training center\u200b has already begun, but a petition \u2063has circulated in Atlanta demanding a halt to\u2064 the project pending a referendum.<\/p>\n<p>Activists leading the ongoing referendum effort against the project \u200bcondemned the\u2064 charges, calling them \u201canti-democratic.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cChris Carr may try to use\u2063 his prosecutors \u2064and power to build his gubernatorial campaign and silence free speech, but his threats will not silence our commitment to standing up for our future, our community, and our city,\u201d the Cop City Vote coalition said \u2062in a statement.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<h2>&#8216;Domestic Violent Extremists&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>The U.S. Department \u2062of Homeland Security <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/new-dhs-memo-warns-of-heightened-threat-of-terror-attacks-through-2024-election-season_5300559.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a> in \u200ca bulletin posting in May that since the spring of 2022,\u200d &#8220;alleged [domestic violent extremists] in Georgia\u2063 have cited anarchist violent \u2064extremism, animal rights\/environmental violent \u2064extremism, and anti-law \u200denforcement sentiment to justify criminal activity in opposition to a planned public safety training facility in Atlanta.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>It added, &#8220;Criminal acts have included an alleged shooting and assaults targeting\u200d law enforcement and property damage targeting the facility, construction companies, and financial institutions for their perceived involvement\u2063 with the planned facility.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Wood planks at the anarchist camp near Atlanta, Ga., on Jan. 23, 2023. (Jackson Elliott\/The Epoch Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The DAF group, according to the indictment, is an &#8220;unofficial, Atlanta-based organization that frames itself as a broad, decentralized, autonomous movement that uses advocacy\u2063 and direct action to stop the &#8216;forest [from being] bulldozed in favor of police and sold out to \u2063Hollywood.'&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>According \u2064to the indictment, \u200bthe DAF \u2063group \u2062has three\u2064 main ideologies. \u2062The \u200dfirst is \u200ban anti-police ideology that frames all law enforcement officers as violent. The second is one that strives to protect the environment at all costs, giving it the same rights as humans and using that to justify violence in defending it. \u200dThe third ideology supports anarchy.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;As a \u200cresult of all three\u2063 ideologies joining forces, the\u2062 group has been able to quickly recruit nationwide support of extremists, including out-of-state\u2062 extremists that have traveled to Georgia,&#8221; the indictment reads. &#8220;Many of these extremists embrace \u2062violence and anarchy, and they use the forest as a guise for their violent agenda.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Antifa\u200c stickers on\u2063 a destroyed gazebo at the\u200b anarchist camp near \u2062Atlanta, Ga. on Jan. 23, 2023. (Jackson Elliott\/The Epoch\u200c Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<h2>Links to Anarchist Movements<\/h2>\n<p>The indictment notes that DAF &#8220;frequently uses symbols associated with anarchist movements.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>These include &#8220;the capital letter &#8216;A&#8217; surrounded by a circle, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pbs-branded-enemy-of-the-people-after-network-slaps-warning-label-on-trump-live-event\/\" title=\"PBS labeled as 'enemy' for warning label on Trump live event.\">raised clenched fist<\/a>, Antifa flags and \u2063symbols associated with anti-fascist movements, graffiti which includes\u2062 these symbols.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>According to the indictment, other \u200dmessages used by the group in their graffiti \u2062include &#8220;Defend the Atlanta Forest,&#8221; &#8220;Stop Cop City,&#8221; &#8220;Kill Cops,&#8221; &#8220;All Cops are [expletive]&#8221; (ACAB), and &#8220;1312&#8221; the numerical equivalent of ACAB.<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Graffiti with the abbreviation &#8220;ACAB&#8221; at the anarchist camp near Atlanta, Ga. on Jan. 23, 2023. (Jackson Elliott\/The Epoch Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Graffiti reading &#8220;Stop Cop City&#8221; at the anarchist\u200c camp near Atlanta, Ga. on Jan. 23, 2023. (Jackson Elliott\/The Epoch Times<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over 61 protesters in Georgia face racketeering charges for opposing the construction of a police and firefighter training facility in Atlanta, mockingly referred to as &#8220;Cop City&#8221;. Republican Attorney General Chris Carr announced the 109-page indictment on Sept. 5, which was issued by a grand jury on Aug. 29.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":183,"featured_media":2023146,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2023145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2023145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/183"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2023145"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2023145\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2023146"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2023145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2023145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2023145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}