Dozens of activists packed Atlanta City Hall on Monday to renew their demand for a citywide referendum on the controversial $109 million public safety training center, dubbed Cop City by opponents.
It was a year ago, on Sept. 11, when organizers of the Stop Cop City campaign submitted more than 100,000 signed petitions to the city clerk seeking to put the training center on the ballot.
The signatures remain uncounted and unverified by the city while the referendum remains in legal limbo. Construction of the training center on 85 acres in the South River Forest has been ongoing and officials say it is expected to open in December.
During two hours of public comment at Monday’s meeting, more than 20 people denounced the city for not verifying the signatures. The signatures have been stored in clerk’s office for the past 12 months.
They also accused Mayor Andre Dickens and the city council of blocking democracy by not allowing city residents to vote on the training center.
“Last summer, I spent three months canvassing in 100-degree heat for the referendum campaign. I engaged with people from diverse backgrounds, and while our views on policing solutions varied, the consensus was clear — everyone should have the opportunity to vote on the issue and participate in direct democracy,” said one person.
“I thought if I took the time to work through the proper channels within the system, we could make a difference. I can’t believe I’m here a full year later … and the signatures are in boxes collecting dust somewhere in this building still uncounted,” she said.
Devin Barrington Ward, candidate for the City Council District 3 At Large seat, told council members, “The fight for Cop City has become a symbol of the city’s values.”
“They signed a petition calling for a vote on cop city, and instead of respecting that, this administration has appealed it. That’s not a bureaucracy of foot dragging. It’s voter suppression,” he said.
“When you push through this project that they don’t want, you undermine the very foundations of democracy, and we won’t stand for it.”
After Barrington Ward finished speaking, the Stop Cop City activists stood up and started chanting, “You dropped the ball!” and “The people must decide!” They also threw ping pong balls toward the council members. Two people held up a banner that said, “Andre Dickens: You dropped the ball on democracy!”
City Council President Doug Shipman pleaded with the crowd to stop so the meeting could continue. The livestream of the meeting was cut after several minutes.
The meeting resumed about 20 minutes after protesters left the chamber. The Atlanta Community Press Collective captured the protest on video:
