Protesters throw firecrackers at the US Police Center
A southern US construction site where a police training center is to be built in Atlanta was the scene of clashes and fires caused during a demonstration against the company’s facility on the site. The melee resulted in the arrest of 35 people, officials said.
The proposed site for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, dubbed “Police City” by its opponents, has been the subject of growing discontent from protesters opposed to both the increasing militarization of the police force and the use of this type of police force in the forest, which some call the Look at the “lungs” of the city.
According to the facility’s website, the police and fire training center will be built on 34.4 acres in DeKalb County.
Sunday’s clashes began with a music festival that was part of a week of demonstrations against the construction of the police center. But authorities said the event turned violent as blackclad “agitators” stormed the site, hurling bricks, stones, Molotov cocktails and firecrackers at police.
“The unlawful actions of the rioters could have resulted in bodily harm. Officers exercised restraint and used nonlethal measures to make the arrests,” police said.
Images on social media showed flames and smoke billowing from various spots on the property. A picture showed heavy equipment on fire.
Hundreds of people attended Sunday’s events and one group left the concert to start a protest, local television reported, citing witnesses.
Opposition to the police center say they want to save a key green space near the Atlanta metro area, home to about 6 million people.
“We are asking all people of good conscience to stand in solidarity with the movement to stop Police City and defend Welaunee Forest,” a statement said on a website called Defend Atlanta Forest.
The grounds will host a range of events from March 4th to 11th, including live music and forest walks.
With more events planned in the coming days, Atlanta Police said they have a “layered strategy that includes response and arrest.”