(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) Mostly peaceful protestors hurling rocks, Molotov cocktails and other explosives affiliated with Antifa groups executed a planned attack on the construction site of Atlanta’s Public Safety Training Facility, colloquially known as “Cop City.”
The site was set on fire after a group called Defend the Atlanta Forest launched a protest against the facility under the hashtag #StopCopCity. Reports indicated that Molotov cocktails were thrown and several fires were set across the site.
CONSTRUCTION SITE BURNS: Huge plumes of smoke and massive police response after @defendATLforest / #StopCopCity protesters face off with police at the site of Atlanta’s future Public Safety Training Facility. I’m told Molotov cocktails were thrown. Construction equipment is on… https://t.co/6dIyrPff6T pic.twitter.com/0F9qj8dgFn
— Billy Heath III (@BillyHeathFOX5) March 5, 2023
According to the Post Millennial, the attacks spawned from a marching protest, where many of the participants carried makeshift shields. The riot started soon after the marchers reached their intended destination. Initially they threw rocks, sticks and other items at officers, followed by fiery projectiles.
“There is a massive police presence along Key Road in southeast Atlanta… protestors were actively clashing with officers,” said reporter Billy Health. “We have since been told the protest has been contained and many of the protestors have scattered into the woods.”
The whole event was planned via social media, with the week of March 4-11 being dubbed the “week of action.”
In addition to protesting the facility, rioters planned the event as a reactive “night of rage” after a police officer killed an Antifa comrade, who reportedly opened fire on the officers in an attempt to establish an autonomous zone.
The same activist attempted to set an Atlanta police car on fire in February.
Breaking: Far-left extremists & #Antifa gathering for revenge against law enforcement in #Atlanta over the killing of their gunman at their autonomous zone smashed up businesses & set an @Atlanta_Police vehicle on fire. Vid by @HumanDilemma_. #StopCopCity pic.twitter.com/yVHD1Bp4Ws
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) January 22, 2023
A previous protest in Atlanta revealed that many of the Antifa protestors are not from Georgia at all, and the group continues to import rioters from other states in order to give their movement clout.
“Only one perpetrator arrested during Saturday’s riot is from Georgia,” he wrote. “None of those arrested during last week’s operation are from Georgia. Law enforcement demonstrated how quickly we shut down those trying to import violence from other states, and we’ll continue to do so.”
