Editor’s Note: The following report was originally posted on the @stopcopcity Instagram account. Cop City is the name people have given to the proposed largest police training facility in the U.S., in Atlanta, Georgia. To build it, the police foundations and corporations backing the project will have to destroy the largest green space in Atlanta, now known as the Weelaunee People’s Forest.
For the past year, the community around the forest has mobilized and invited supporters from around the world to come experience and live in the forest in a continual occupation, so far stopping attempted destruction, even as the project is held up in court. In December 2022, six unarmed forest defenders were arrested in a raid and charged with “domestic terrorism.”
On January 18, 2023, police murdered one protester and arrested several more on the same charges. It has been reported widely in corporate media that police say an officer was shot and that police then shot Tortuguita. Police say no bodycams were worn. Organizers are skeptical of the police account of Tortuguita’s death and demand an independent investigation and accountability.
Vigils in Atlanta, Asheville, Durham, Olympia, Detroit, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Savannah, and Portland brought out hundreds of #StopCopCity supporters. As of this writing, more vigils and protests are planned for this weekend in New York City, NY, Pontiac, MI, Santa Cruz, CA, Chattanooga, TN, Richmond, VA, Miami, FL, Seattle, WA, Bellingham, WA, Boise, ID, Chicago, IL, Urbana-Champaign, IL, Philadelphia, PA, Dallas, TX, and London, UK.
ATLANTA, GA — About 300 people gathered at Little 5 Points in remembrance of Tortuguita (tor-too-ghee-tah), the forest defender who was shot and killed by the police on Wednesday, January 18. Organizers are outraged at the police killing of yet another person of color.
People mourned, cried, and supported each other. They reaffirmed their commitment to public safety free of police and Cop City. People sang, played guitar, and then marched in the streets shouting “No justice, no peace” and “Stop Cop City”.
Organizers are receiving an outpouring of support from across the country. There were vigils for Tortuguita in Asheville, Durham, Olympia, Detroit, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Savannah, and Portland, with more planned for this evening and this weekend.
A fellow forest defender said: “Tortuguita showed an incredible amount of passion toward collective struggles for liberation and freedom. This passion was informed by their strong commitment to critical thought and inquiry. During their many months in the Weelaunee Forest, Tort could often be found in deep discussions about radical history, theory, and how we move together in this movement.”
Tortuguita was a very active part in supporting mutual aid for the community and people in the forest. In Tallahassee, they were a part of Food Not Bombs, a food distribution organization. In Atlanta, they ran the mutual aid account @browncatmutualaid, which raised thousands of dollars to meet the material needs of people of color and people who were defending the forest. One person reached out saying: “When I was going through some things late last year, this person was always willing to share the posts I made and even made donations periodically. They would reach out asking how I’m doing and if I needed help. I, in turn, would share mutual aid requests for forest defenders”.
“Tortuguita was a very kind person,” says a friend of theirs. “They were always willing to help and take care of people in need around them, especially the qtbipoc community. They were always attentive to others needs and offer always the best of them. A true warrior for the forest and the people! I miss them so much.”
Organizers are skeptical of the police account of Tort’s death and demand an independent investigation and accountability.
People have shared many beautiful stories of Tortuguita and the love they had for people and the Earth. Quotes from friends and fellow forest defenders about Tortuguita can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CnpRBFPOFy9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
“As we mourn the passing of our beloved friend, we continue to fight for the forest that they died protecting and to stop the facility that would only further the police brutality that caused their death,” says a friend of theirs who has lived in Atlanta since high school and met them in the forest last summer. “We demand corporate donors divest from the Atlanta Police Foundation immediately, and that all contractors drop the project. We will continue the fight to stop Cop City. The love that Tortuguita brought into this world gives us the resolve to continue to fight, even as we mourn the loss of such a wonderful person.”
Interview with Tortuguita: https://bittersoutherner.com/feature/2023/little-turtles-war-cop-city-atlanta
“Tortuguita will be forever missed. May we protect the forest that they died for and may we build a world free of police violence,” shares a fellow forest defender.
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