What is Cop City?

The Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, or Cop City, is a plan to cut down at least 85 acres of forest land in Southeast Atlanta to build a police militarization center that includes a pretend city for police to train in urban warfare and control tactics.

It would be built in a majority Black area of DeKalb County, which would only worsen the environmental racism and pollution that residents already experience.

Cop City was designed by the Atlanta Police Foundation, a corporate-funded private organization, and approved by a City Council and Mayor that have continually ignored the voices of residents. 

Cop City is an anti-democratic deal struck behind closed doors, backed by corporate money, and full of corruption. It does not represent the people of Atlanta.

The Stop Cop City movement represents the true Atlanta community, which is a diverse, passionate, widespread coalition of Atlanta residents, human rights organizations, educators, faith leaders, youth, students, and everyday Atlantans who are fighting for an Atlanta that works for everyone––not just corporations and powerful politicians.

Atlanta residents have repeatedly made clear where they stand on Cop City. In September 2021, when the Atlanta City Council first voted on the proposal, there were over 17 hours of public comment in which the majority of people spoke against the facility. In May 2023, there were another 7 hours of unanimous public comments against Cop City. In June 2023, there were 14 hours of public comments declaring loudly and clearly that Atlantans do not want Cop City.

Atlantans cannot afford to lose this fight. You can’t either. Join us.