(Atlanta, GA) Today, over 1,300 Climate Justice and racial justice groups from across the U.S. joined Atlanta residents. Community organizations call for the immediate resignation of Mayor Andre Dickens in light of the police murder of a protestor, Manuel “Tortuguita” Paez Terán, by a joint task force, including the Atlanta Police Department, in Entrenchment Creek Park on Wednesday, January 18th, 2023. Those included People Vs. Fossil Fuels a coalition of over 1,200 climate justice groups fighting to protect the land and water in frontline
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communities across the U.S, the Abolitionist Teaching Network, First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta -Social Justice Guild, the Atlanta Justice Alliance, Jewish Voices for Peace, the Black Futurists Group, the BlackOUT Collective, Community Movement Builders, The Ruckus Society, ikiyA Collective, Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights, Unitarian Universalist Association, the Palestinian Youth Movement, and many more as seen here.
“Over a week has passed since the murder of Terán, and Mayor Dickens has still failed to condemn the killing of the innocent 26-year-old by police, instead opting to condemn protestors and parrot the rhetoric of extreme right-wing governor, Brian Kemp.” the group’s letter read. “As a growing number of Atlanta residents, national and global news outlets, and human rights and environmental organizations worldwide call for an investigation of the police narrative of Tortugita’s death, Dickens has dismissed their concerns. He has refused to bring any scrutiny to the one-sided and unsubstantiated recounting of events. Dickens has yet to offer condolences to the slain protestor’s family.”
Tortuguita was murdered by police while protecting the Weelaunee forest from being torn down to build “Cop City” a proposed $90M Atlanta police training facility where police from across the country would be trained to stifle and silence protests in cities. Tortuguita, also known as “Tort,” was a trained medic, forest defender, who coordinated mutual aid, and helped build housing in hurricane-impacted areas of Florida.
“Cop City will impact organizing across the country, this is a national issue. Climate justice and police brutality are interconnected, which is why we are joining the Stop Cop City calls to action with the frontline communities in Atlanta.” said ikiyA collective a member of the People vs. Fossil Fuels steering committee. “It is imperative that we demand an independent investigation into the police murder of Manuel “Tortuguita” Paez Terán. Also, it is within Mayor Dickens and the Atlanta city council’s power to terminate the land lease for Cop City at Weelaunee Forest. We join calls for the lease’s termination and Mayor Dickens’s resignation.”
