Dramatic footage released by the Atlanta Police Department Sunday night showed the moment Antifa protesters dressed in all black broke into the construction site for a proposed police training facility.
Nearly 150 rioters could be seen in the video posted to Facebook dressed in all black or camouflage and wearing ski masks entered the site of Atlanta’s future Public Safety Training Facility — dubbed Cop City by those who protest its development — and immediately set off fireworks.
Just a few moments later, the fireworks start to explode near where cops are stationed. Some of the group could later be seen gathering riot shields, as they motioned for others to join them.
Once they were together, they started throwing Molotov cocktails at a construction vehicle and ran away as it was left on fire. Other videos posted online showed a police surveillance tower on fire, sending smoke billowing nearby.
In the end 35 people were arrested, the Atlanta Police Department reports.
Atlanta Police released the following statement:
On March 5, 2023, a group of violent agitators used the cover of a peaceful protest of the proposed Atlanta Public Safety Training Center to conduct a coordinated attack on construction equipment and police officers. They changed into black clothing and entered the construction area and began to throw large rocks, bricks, Molotov cocktails, and fireworks at police officers.
The agitators destroyed multiple pieces of construction equipment by fire and vandalism. Multiple law enforcement agencies deployed to the area and detained several people committing illegal activity. 35 agitators have been detained so far.
The illegal actions of the agitators could have resulted in bodily harm. Officers exercised restraint and used non-lethal enforcement to conduct arrests.
With protests planned for the coming days, the Atlanta Police Department, in collaboration with law enforcement partners, have a multi-layered strategy that includes reaction and arrest.
The Atlanta Police Department asks for this week’s protests to remain peaceful.
— Atlanta Police Department
With protestors vowing a “week of action” against the training site, police say they’ll step up patrols to prevent what they call an escalation of violence.
“Criminal activity will not be tolerated in Atlanta nor tolerated in connection to this project,” Schierbaum said.
No officers were injured in the confrontation. A handful of protestors were treated for minor injuries when officers say they used “non-lethal” force against the group.
Gov. Kemp responds to latest clash at site
In a statement, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp called the activists “violent” who put “those in the surrounding community at risk.”
“They chose destruction and vandalism over legitimate protest, yet again demonstrating the radical intent behind their actions,” Kemp said.
The governor had previously declared a state of emergency during the protests in Downtown Atlanta over law enforcement’s killing of one of the environmental activists at the site.
Speaking at his State of the State address on Wednesday, Kemp decried the protesters as “out-of-state rioters” who “tried to bring violence to the streets of our capital city.” He said it was “just the latest example of why here in Georgia, we’ll always back the blue.”
In his latest statement, Kemp again reiterated that anyone caught committing illegal acts while protesting at the site will be prosecuted.
“As I’ve said before, domestic terrorism will not be tolerated in this state,” he said. “As we continue to respect peaceful protest, we will also continue to ensure safety in our communities. We will not rest until those who use violence and intimidation for an extremist end are brought to full justice.”
Who is behind the riot?
The Post Millennial’s Andy Ngo reports the entire attack was well-organized. The actions by the Antifa group allegedly responsible for last night’s attack promoted direct action weeks ago.
The dramatic confrontation between police and protesters comes as individuals and activist organizations descend on the proposed site for a ‘week of action’ to protest its development.
‘This is the first week of action since the state killed someone,’ Marlon Kautz, an organizer with Atlanta Solidarity Fund told The Guardian, referring to the police-involved killing of Manuel Paez Teran in January.
A private autopsy showed he was shot 13 times.
Authorities have asserted Teran — who identified as nonbinary — opened fire at a Georgia State Patrol trooper during a ‘clearing operation’ of the so-called autonomous zone at the site of the $90million project.
‘The entire character, mood and status of the struggle has transformed dramatically… [and] feels much more real — to us and to the state,’ Kautz said.
