老澳门开奖结果 Condemns Unprecedented RICO Indictment of People Protesting Construction of Controversial Police Training Center in Georgia

September 5, 2023 5:00 pm

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ATLANTA 鈥 Georgia鈥檚 attorney general has indictments against more than 60 people, alleging violations of the state鈥檚 Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law over ongoing efforts to halt construction of Atlanta鈥檚 planned $90 million police training center, known by many as 鈥淐op City.鈥 Some are also facing additional charges of domestic terrorism and money laundering.

鈥淲e are extremely concerned by this breathtakingly broad and unprecedented use of state terrorism, anti-racketeering, and money laundering laws against protesters,鈥 said Aamra Ahmad, senior staff attorney with 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 National Security Project. 鈥淕eorgia law enforcement officials are disproportionately wielding these overbroad laws to stigmatize and target those who disagree with the government.鈥

Since late 2021, protesters under the banners of 鈥淪top Cop City鈥 and 鈥淧rotect the Weelaunee Forest鈥 have raised concerns over climate justice, displacement of Black communities, and increasing militarization of police forces. Protesters have camped out in the forest, staged marches, and hosted community events. At times, a small minority of protesters have allegedly damaged property.

鈥淒emocracy requires dissent and our state鈥檚 officials should not be exposing individuals to potentially decades in prison for engaging in protest,鈥 said Christopher Bruce, policy and advocacy director at 老澳门开奖结果 of Georgia.

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