Tear Gas Deployed In East Atlanta 'Cop City' Protest: Officials

EAST ATLANTA — As of noon Monday, no one has been arrested or injured in what DeKalb County officials call an "un-permitted march" at the site of the future Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, where tear gas has been deployed.

Monday's protest is the latest in a string of acts by environmentalists who oppose the building of the training center, known to protesters as "Cop City."

County officials said the hours-long march began at 10:30 a.m. and blocked two of four lanes of traffic. Twenty minutes later, protesters were told they were obstructing the road and could not proceed, officials said.

"The protestors ignored the commands by DeKalb County Police and began to force their way through a line of 30 DeKalb County police officers. DeKalb County police officers deployed tear gas canisters to disperse the protestors," county officials said in a statement.

Atlanta News First reported "Block Cop City" protesters began the march at Gresham Park.

The protesters started returning to Gresham Park around 11:45 a.m., officials said. No one had been injured as of noon.

At its 2:45 p.m. update, the county said about 100 protesters were at Gresham and remained peaceful without further conflict or confrontation. Police were continuing to monitor the protest.

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The training center has been at the forefront of a battle between law enforcement and protesters who are against the building of the East Atlanta center for environmental concerns. Atlanta city officials have promised to protect the forest in the building of the center. The proposed site is near Key and Constitution roads.

The property, which will benefit Atlanta Police and the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, will sit on land that spans 385 acres and is owned by the City of Atlanta near Intrenchment Creek, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said in the past.

According to the Atlanta Police Foundation, part of the purpose for the center is to promote morale and retention, as well as embrace police reform and cultural sensitivity.

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Protesters have been clashing with police over the training center's construction and vying to secure the forest on the land. The protests turned deadly the day of the Jan. 16 clearing operation during which Manuel Paez Teran, who used they/their pronouns and was known as Tortuguita, was killed in a police shooting.

Six Georgia State Patrol troopers accused in the fatal shooting will not be charged, according to the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office.

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At least 60 people were arraigned on Nov. 6 after being accused of participating in violence at the training center.

The Atlanta City Council voted on June 6 with an 11-4 vote to approve construction for the public safety training center, the Atlanta Journal Constitution previously reported. Taxpayers in the City of Atlanta will allocate $67 million toward the center, according to the outlet.

Information about the public safety facility is available here.