Atlanta, GA – On Saturday, January 18, hundreds of community members gathered to honor the life of Manuel Esteban Paez Teràn, known as Tortuguita, a forest defender killed by the Georgia State Patrol two years ago while protesting the construction of Cop City in Atlanta. Protesters carried turtle-shaped umbrellas with messages of solidarity in honor of Tortuguita’s life.

The rally began at Old Fourth Ward Skatepark with speakers from important local and national struggles, along with community-building activities. Indigenous activists in the struggle against the Dakota Access Pipeline spoke about the importance of opposing projects like Cop City. The Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights spoke about the fight against repressive anti-immigrant bills, such as the Laken Riley Act, which recently passed in the Senate. Refaat Alareer Mobile Library was also present, honoring the life and work of the martyred Palestinian activist and professor Dr. Refaat Alareer.

“My message is that we have to keep going,” said Belkis Teràn, mother of Tortuguita. “We have to work on ourselves. That’s why I did the Tortuguita Healing Center, it’s for everybody that wants to do good for the community and for themselves.” Teràn stressed the importance of continuing the fight, remembering Tortuguita’s words “we can defeat the police by being happy.”

Protesters marched down the Atlanta Beltline towards the BlackRock Atlanta office. Tim Franzen, a member of People’s Campaign to Stop Cop City, says in his speech “BlackRock owns part of Lockheed Martin. What do they do? They build bombs and jets. Where do they go? They go to Gaza. They’re invested in every part of the policing process.” BlackRock also plays a big role in displacing working-class Black families in Atlanta and all over the country.

The rally ended back at the skatepark, with activists vowing to keep up the fight against Cop City and asserting their determination to win. “We can win. I believe that. Because when people gather together and fight for our rights, we will win. That’s what I believe.” stated Ms. Jodah Barnette, with the People’s Campaign to Stop Cop City. “We have to keep on fighting and keep on going. And that’s why I'm out here today when I could be at home resting.”

#AtlantaGA #GA #InJusticeSystem #CopCity #Tortuguita #KillerCops

Atlanta, GA – Hundreds gathered in the Atlanta Forest over the March 5-6 weekend to demand justice for Manny “Tortuguita” Paez, and that the Atlanta forest be saved,and Cop City not be built. The events over the weekend included a two-day music festival and a protest inside the Atlanta Forest. Georgia law enforcement agencies ended the music festival early by arresting and charging 22 attendants with domestic terrorism charges.

The music festival and protest were part of a week of action against the proposed Cop City development. Saturday featured local musical acts such as rapper Zach Fox and hardcore band Symbiote. The music festival continued the next day with a protest in the forest. During the protest individuals allegedly overran a police security outpost and set pieces of police and construction equipment on fire.

In response, multiple Georgia law enforcement agencies raided the music festival and began arresting people indiscriminately. Of the over 30 that were arrested, 22 are currently being charged with state-level domestic terrorism charges.

“The Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR) stands in solidarity with the Cop City protesters against these bogus terrorism charges,” said Tom Burke of the CSFR. “The Atlanta police murdered environmental activist Manny Paez last month and then lied about it. The cops are terrorizing people in Atlanta and then lying every time they open their mouths.”

Activists are not letting the state repression deter them and are continuing to organize to defend the Atlanta Forest and to stop Cop City.

#AtlantaGA #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #CommitteeToStopFBIRepression #Tortuguita #CopCity

Atlanta, GA – Over 300 people gathered January 21 at Underground Atlanta shopping center to honor the life of Manuel “Manny” “Tortuguita” “Teran” Paez, demand an end to the building of Cop City and to defend an Atlanta forest.

The Atlanta Police Department is seeking to build a new $80 million training facility that activists are calling “Cop City.” The proposed training facility would require the destruction of 300 acres of forestland in the southeastern part of the city and would be used to train police officers in new innovative ways to oppress and brutalize people. Cop City would be equipped with a shooting range as well as weapons and explosives testing.

Paez, also known as Tortuguita, was occupying the forest to prevent the building of Cop City when they were murdered by Georgia State Patrol on January 18. It’s still unclear what happened that night. Police accounts of what transpired contradict other accounts, but those that knew Paez say they were nonviolent. Given Georgia law enforcement’s track record of lies and cover-ups however, those that knew Paez question the official police narrative.

“Tortuguita was a medic in our collective. They were a forest defender. They were a friend. They were funny. They were kind. Tortuguita was constantly thinking of others. They were constantly trying to protect other people, trying to protect the forest. Trying to protect everyone who was marginalized,” said Bee from Atlanta Resistance Medics.

Before Paez had moved to Atlanta they were an activist in Tallahassee, Florida organizing with the Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC).

“Manuel Paez was an activist and organizer who fought for what they believed in. They were present for countless protests and events against police brutality and for reproductive rights and LGBTQ justice. They weren’t a person who believed in hurting people for no reason. The real criminal is the police officer who murdered them in cold blood,” said Delilah Pierre, president of TCAC.

Attendants at the protest recommitted to the fight against Cop City and to continue the fight in honor of Manny’s life.

Tortuga vive! La lucha sigue!

#AtlantaGA #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #EnvironmentalJustice #PoliticalRepression #TallahasseeCommunityActionCommitteeTCAC #Tortuguita #ManuelPaez #CopCity