Judge will dismiss racketeering charges against ‘Cop City’ protesters

A Fulton County judge mentioned Tuesday he will dismiss racketeering charges against all defendants accused of trying to stop construction of Atlanta s controversial community safety training center commonly referred to by critics as Cop City According to the Associated Press via GPB News Superior Court Judge Kevin Farmer ruled that Republican Attorney General Chris Carr lacked the authority to bring the sweeping indictments under Georgia s RICO law without authorization from Gov Brian Kemp The scenario was held to be the largest racketeering prosecution ever brought against protesters in U S history Farmer mentioned Carr also lacked authority to pursue arson charges against several defendants though domestic terrorism counts may still stand He indicated a formal order will be filed soon with an appeal expected The indictment which carried foreseen -year prison sentences targeted a broad spectrum of alleged actions from Molotov cocktail attacks to distributing fliers and food to protesters in South River Forest where the training center is located Critics had blasted the scenario as politically motivated while supporters including Kemp called it essential to stopping out-of-state radicals The Stop Cop City movement opposed the million facility on environmental and civil rights grounds The training center opened earlier this year despite years of protests delays protection concerns and the death of a protester after a confrontation with police The post Judge will dismiss racketeering charges against Cop City protesters appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta