“Cop City” Attacked by Terrorists
If you are not aware of what Cop City is – or that it was violently attacked — you probably watch MSNBC with a never used remote control. In that case, there is a lot going on around the world of which you are unaware. If you are addicted to MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” you will not know anything about “cop city.” (I actually tested it with a couple of my MSNBC-addicted liberal friends. They never heard of it.)
News organizations with a wider-angle lens covered the story extensively. For the edification of the MSNBC junkies: There was a domestic terrorist attack on the construction site of the Public Safety Training Facility in Atlanta, Georgia – dubbed “cop city.”
The 85-acre facility will feature a mock city environment for police and first responder training. It will feature a course for training emergency vehicle drivers – and even stalls for horse units. It will be the largest such facility in the nation. It has been under siege by left-wing extremists for months.
Protestors – who have been illegally “camping” at the site for more than six months — have a variety of complaints. Some claim the facility poses an environmental hazard and a threat to wildlife. They also claim the forested area reduces air pollution. Others represent the anti-corporate left wing. They opposed the financial support from such companies as Delta Airlines and Home Depot.
The attack on the site was not the only violent event. Previously, a 26-year-old protester was killed by police after he shot and wounded a state trooper. He was identified as Esteban Paez Terán. He has said to have been protesting as a self-described “forest defender.”
Mostly, however, the bulk of the protesters are anti-policing in general. The day of the riot was promoted as a “National Day of Action Against Police Terror.” They violently attack police, claiming THEY are terrorists. They must be taking propaganda lessons from Russian President Putin.
They represent the faction of the far left that pushes for more restrictions on police – and defunding the core mission of policing. Rather they want money to be reprioritized for social welfare programs. They want to replace armed police with social workers as first responders in such cases as domestic violence calls or hostage situations.
In recent days, the protestors – wearing Ninja-like black clothing — mounted an all-out attack on the facility. Police were attacked with Molotov cocktails, commercial-grade fireworks, and rocks. Construction equipment and police vehicles were set ablaze – and several fires were set around the perimeter of the construction site. Some officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Obviously, this was more than a protest. It was a riot … an orchestrated attack … maybe even an insurrection against the government. (I would not normally call it that, but it seems the threshold of insurrection has been significantly lowered in recent days.)
More than 30 people were detained, and 23 of the rioters were arrested and charged with domestic terrorism – with 22 beings held without bail. The one released is an interesting case. He is Tom Jurgens, an attorney representing the National Lawyers’ Guild in cooperation with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) – who was released on $5000 bond. He said he was there as a “legal observer.”
According to the SPLC, Jurgens was there “documenting potential violations of protesters’ rights.” SPLC President Margaret Huang expressed outrage that Jurgens would be arrested. I guess it is important to protect the rights of protestors (rioters) who toss Molotov cocktails, heavy-duty fireworks, and rocks at police. Safe to say … Jurgens was not an objective or impartial observer.
Interestingly, the majority of those arrested were not from the Atlanta area – not even Georgia. A least one joined the attack from Canada. That fact alone strongly suggests an international web of left-wing terrorist–organized terrors on a national scale.
Even if you count the coverage this event got on SOME national media, even that was much less than given to alleged instances of “right-wing terrorism.” Unbalanced coverage is one of the major reasons for the divisiveness in America. Yes, there is right-wing extremism. Rioters should be severely punished. But the idea that it involves anything more than marginal fringe groups is nonsense. And to keep reporting on only one brand of nutcases is journalistic malpractice.
I will be very interested in eventually learning about the disposition of the 23 cases of domestic terrorism. Based on past experience, I fear these thugs will be back on the streets in the near future. Maybe that is already.
So, there ‘tis.
Terrorists, insurrection, fits the bill, indict, lock em up, convict em, punish them.
The vast majority of liberals do not support defunding the police, at least not it terms of less police on the street.
Orchestrated? It’s been six months, anyone can find it…
30 people is an insurrection at a 3% level or less of the Republican Insurrection of 16.2021 orchestrated by Donald J. Trump for the benefit of Donald J. Trump.
And I agree, the media should cover:
What Is ‘Cop City’? The Atlanta Police Center Protests, Explained NYT, 3.7.2023
What’s at stake in Atlanta’s ‘Cop City’ protests NPR 3.7.2023
Atlanta’s ‘Cop City’ and the debate over US protest rights Al Jazeera 3.9.2023
What is Atlanta’s ‘Cop City’? Inside the controversial site Daily Mail 2/2023
Kemp declares state of emergency in Georgia over ‘Cop City’ protests Politico 1/2023
Activists denounce Atlanta’s plan for ‘Cop City’ after police clash MSNBC The Reidout 3.6.2023
Plenty of print coverage, but you are right, it only seems to have hit a blog on MSNBC. If they did the crime, they should do the time.
Frank, I think you, me, and Larry are in a trifecta of agreement again. How this warms my heart and fills me with hope!!! And I want to personally praise you to the highest heavens for not attacking our good friend Larry. I noticed your excellent demeanor in this post and just want you to know you are my hero for today! I will tip a jug of Old Milwaukee to you later! And thanks for the nice little list of outlets that covered the attack on Cop City. I saw the report on CBS Streaming. Your list proves Larry’s point of how little this event was covered with respect to how other events such as Jan 6th have been covered. But in accounting for economies of scale, I would expect this event to receive less coverage. Again, great response my hero!!!!
THIS ALL IS THANKS TO BIDEN AND HIS REGIME, TO NEVER DO ANYTHING TO ARREST AND PUT ALL THESE CRIMINALS IN PRISON. BUT THEY HAVE A BETTER LIVE IN PRISON THEN OUT OF PRISON. IT IS TIME TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THESE CRIMINALS RUNNING FREE THANKS TO THESE DEMOCRATIC LAWLESS OFFICIALS. BESIDES WE ARE SICK OF LIVING IN A STATE WHERE SODOM AND GOMORRAH IS RAMPANT, GOD TOLD US HE IS GIVING US ONE MORE CHANCE TO REPENT, IF WE DO NOT DO SO THERE WILL BE REPERCUSSIONS, IT SEEMS WITH BIDEN AND HIS GENDER IDENTITY AND GENDER IDEOLOGY, HIS LOVE FOR DRAG QUEENS ETC, WE ARE NOT REPENTING, JUST THE OPPOSITE. WHY DO WE THE CITIZENS LET ALL THIS HAPPEN TO OUR CHILDREN, OUR PARENTS ARE IN CHARGE, THERE ARE MEN AND WOMEN EVERYTHING ELLS ARE ABOMINATIONS.IN YEARS TO COME WE WILL HAVE SO MANY MENTALLY CHALLENGED PEOPLE THANKS TO BIDEN AND HIS REGIME. BIDEN HAS BLOOD ON HIS HANDS AND NEEDS TO BE STOPPED.SO DOES OBAMA
No doubt about it you think Trump is God’s solution. I will agree with you that the morality of this wonderful country of ours has slipped some. In case you have not noticed, we already have many mentally challenged people. But you can be glad that the Kennedy family (democrats) campaigned so hard and finally got lobotomies declared illegal. You would have been a prime candidate.
Well Larry, most likely your fears will come true. Most likely Kamala Harris will set up a Gofundme account for the rioters and terrorists. I did see a little coverage of the attack but not much. There was at least50 to 100 times the coverage of the January 6th Capital party riot. I do wonder sometimes if MSNBC is behind all of this for rating sake!
I think the facility is a good thing. We need our law enforcement departments well trained in how to handle this sort of thing if we ever intend to keep our right to free speech and assembly. I have repeatedly condemn this attack and others like it. But I do not know the political affiliations of the rioters. My feeling is there are probably at least a couple tree hugging GOPers in there somewhere. But irrespective of party, these people must be punished for what they did just like the violent people on Jan 6th must be punished for what they did.
And I do think first responders, including not just police, but fire fighting, emergency medical, etc, should all be armed and go through this course. It is not right that emergency people just doing their job have to go to these events and get assaulted and sometimes shot at. Time to take back our lawful country and throw all of these hooligans, regardless of party affiliation, in jail for a very long time!
JUST TO MENTION A A WELL KNOWN SOCIAL / LEGAL / POLITICAL SAYING OF OLD (HISTORY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF) : ” WHEN EXCESSIVE FREEDOM DESTROYS ORDER IT WILL BE THE PASSION FOR ORDER TO DESTROY FREEDOM !!!
Claudio — I like that saying.