Leftist Protestors Charged After Violent Protest
Five young leftist protestors were charged with domestic terrorism stemming from a violent protest at the planned site of a police training center.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) revealed in a press release that the individuals have been arrested and charged after protesters threw rocks at police cars and attacked EMT workers with rocks and bottles at a fire station near the site.
The string of arrests comes after an attempt to stop the construction of the police training site, which has been dubbed “Cop City,” by camping out in the woods and building entrenchments.
“Task force members used various tactics to arrest individuals who were occupying makeshift treehouses,” the release said, adding that police found “explosive devices, gasoline and road flares” after clearing out the protest site.
Francis Carroll, a 22-year-old from Maine, was charged with criminal trespass, domestic terrorism, aggravated assault, felony obstruction, interference with government property and possession of tools for the commission of a crime.
Nicholas Olson, a 25-year-old from Nebraska, was charged with domestic terrorism, aggravated assault, interference with government property and obstruction.
Serena Hertel, a 25-year-old from California, was charged with criminal trespassing, domestic terrorism, aggravated assault, obstruction and inciting a riot.
Leonardo Vioselle, 20, from Macon, Georgia, was charged with criminal trespass, domestic terrorism, and possession for tools of the crime.
Arieon Robinson, a 22-year-old from Wisconsin, was charged with criminal trespass, obstruction and domestic terrorism.
“They were shooting pepper balls, tear gas at people who were peacefully holding the forest space right now,” one of the protesters at the scene told WAGA-TV. “I think it’s truly abhorrent.”
“The City of Atlanta has leased 381 acres of Weelaunee Forest, stolen Muscogee land, to the Atlanta Police Foundation for a police military facility funded by corporations,” the Stop Cop City organization states on its website. “Cop City will never be built. #StopCopCity #DefendWeelaunee.”