A public safety training center set to be constructed in Atlanta has garnered national attention after prompting protests throughout the city as well as in states like Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and more.

The debate over the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center has been ongoing. The center is going to be used for specialized training for both law enforcement and fire department service workers.

City officials a*sert that the center could improve policing, while critics claim the effort is militarizing police and endangering communities.

Here is what you need to know about the debate around the center:

What is 'Cop City'?
"Cop City" is the nickname critics have given the planned training center.

The center is expected to cost $90 million and take up over 85 acres, with the "remaining portion of the 265-acres property as greenspace," according to the center's website, potentially impacting a forest in Atlanta.

The center will include an "auditorium for police/fire and public use," a "mock city for burn building training and urban police training," an "Emergency Vehicle Operator Course for emergency vehicle driver training," a K-9 unit kennel and training, according to the center's website. The first phase of the training center is scheduled to open in late 2023.

"This training facility will not only help boost morale, retention and recruitment of our public safety personnel, but will give us physical space to ensure that our officers and firef*ghters are receiving 21st century training, rooted in respect and regard for the communities they serve," said then Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms when the center's lease agreement was approved.

The effort is backed by the Atlanta Police Foundation.


The first phase of the Public Safety Training Center in Atlanta is scheduled to open in 2023.

Why are people protesting?
One of the groups behind the protests, called "Stop Cop City," has demonstrated against the training facility for months. They say the center is further militarizing the police and will threaten the lives of marginalized people.

Authorities have argued that the center will help officers "set a national standard for community engagement, neighborhood sensitivity and devotion to the civil rights of all citizens by law enforcement," the center's website reads.

Protests escalated last week when a protester, Manuel Esteban Paez Terán, was shot and k*lled by police as they raided the campground occupied by demonstrators. Officials say the protestor shot first at a state trooper, and the officer responded with the fatal shot.

There is no body camera footage of the incident, police have said. Officials say investigations into the incident are ongoing.

"The police have raided the forest for over 7 months, destroying material by trashing camps and water supplies, threatened the lives of forest defenders and now have murdered one," the group said in a statement to ABC Affiliate WSB.

The statement further read: "Protestors are only leveling the playing field & preventing future violence by disabling the economic machine of the Atlanta Police Foundation that seeks to sterilize all life within the Weelaunee Forest."



Other groups, like Defend The Atlanta Forest, have argued that the center will impact forests which are a vital part of the community, they say. Atlanta has one of the highest percentages of tree canopy in any major U.S. city, according to environmental advocacy group Trees Atlanta, and is home to wetlands and important migration sites for birds.

"The Atlanta Police Department seeks to turn 300 acres of forest into a tactical training compound featuring a mock city," the group said in a statement on their website.

"We refuse to let our forest be bulldozed in favor of the police and sold out to Hollywood," the group also stated.

Neither the city of Atlanta, nor the police department have immediately responded to ABC News' request for comment on the accusations.

The ongoing conflict
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency Thursday in response to ongoing protests in downtown Atlanta relating to Cop City.

Kemp ordered the state's defense department to mobilize up to 1,000 state National Guard troops to be called up to active duty "as necessary."



Authorities arrested six people on Jan. 21 when demonstrations over the proposed training ground for the Atlanta Police Department, which started peacefully, escalated to involve shooting fireworks, smashing windows and igniting a police cruiser once protestors reached downtown.

Kemp's state of emergency declaration came as Atlanta braces for more protests against the facility, as well as potential unrest following the release of body camera footage of the alleged beating of Tyre Nichols by five Memphis, Tennessee, police officers who have since been fired and charged with murder in his death.

 https://abcnews.go.com/US .. ry?id=96716095

State funds being used for state business

fu*k cop city

They are going to make replica's of actual places black people live in atlanta to learn how to ambush black people. They will never come for criminals faster than just any black person in general. it doesn't matter if you behave yourself, if you are black you are a gangster.

And Then antien said They are going to make replica's of actual places black people live in atlanta to learn how to ambush black people. They will never come for criminals faster than just any black person in general. it doesn't matter if you behave yourself, if you are black you are a gangster.

How do you know that for sure? I live in a decently safe area but I have to move soon. We have car break ins but no car jacking or people stealing car parts. It would be unfortunate to move to an area where people steal cars and (not sure if true or not ) but potentially only get a minimal sentence if convicted of stealing giving them incentive to continue to steal like that Kia boys thread. Maybe something like this can offset people that commit crime. I hear that ATL has car break ins but have never been there so not sure of the crime .

They gon k*ll Superboy!!

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Well it’s a major metro, crime is prolly ridiculous drugs are already heavy heavy. What can you really expect, life ain’t no rap song mfs wanna be safe. It’s cool to say fu*k the police but a world with no police would be insane. It almost wouldn’t be possible, people would band together in groups and yet some how some way they would have to police their own as well their surroundings.

I don’t love cops but I’m keeping it real

If it gives them way more training, I'm for it...

Atlanta can use a good Spanking...

They need worry about how these 14 year olds getting guns and sh*t and shooting eachother over Instagram

Bzp said Well it’s a major metro, crime is prolly ridiculous drugs are already heavy heavy. What can you really expect, life ain’t no rap song mfs wanna be safe. It’s cool to say fu*k the police but a world with no police would be insane. It almost wouldn’t be possible, people would band together in groups and yet some how some way they would have to police their own as well their surroundings. I don’t love cops but I’m keeping it real

Yeah I got a family & getting older, I don't love them nor champion for them but the idea to remove them all is crazy & unrealistic. Especially when the option of government police could take its place too.

Haven't lived with my mom's in forever, but if someone broke into her car & her house....wtf ima do miles & miles away? Hope she called the fu*king cops. Everybody wanna be a tough guy til some tough guy sh*t happens.

There are many police training centers around the US. You just don't see them. Usually, they build them (and fire f*ghting training centers) in out of the way places. Have you ever seen anyone protest at the existing police training center for the Atlanta police....

Keep in mind this was approved by Keisha Lance Bottoms and Black Democrat.

When will the Black community relize democrats dont care about us but only the status qou.

This is going to turn atlanta into a cop tourist attraction...

So more drugs and paid off high ranking Cops will be in atlanta than ever before.

And I don't think cops grow the economy like the military does so Atlantas growth will either be stifled or stay at its current rate

genocide

wario101 said Keep in mind this was approved by Keisha Lance Bottoms and Black Democrat. When will the Black community relize democrats dont care about us but only the status qou.

What's your solution a white Republican male?

BReNDon said What's your solution a white Republican male?

Absolutely not. My solution is to withold our votes. ( no tangibles no vote.)Niether Republicans, or Democrats care to do anything for black people.

The thing is black people vote over whemingly for Democrats, yet the party does nothing for us, so im going to call Democrats out.

Bzp said Well it’s a major metro, crime is prolly ridiculous drugs are already heavy heavy. What can you really expect, life ain’t no rap song mfs wanna be safe. It’s cool to say fu*k the police but a world with no police would be insane. It almost wouldn’t be possible, people would band together in groups and yet some how some way they would have to police their own as well their surroundings. I don’t love cops but I’m keeping it real

You do know they are tearing down a black community to do this right…how about learning about his situation before typing on it because it’s not knowledgeable at all.

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ARosary said Yeah I got a family & getting older, I don't love them nor champion for them but the idea to remove them all is crazy & unrealistic. Especially when the option of government police could take its place too. Haven't lived with my mom's in forever, but if someone broke into her car & her house....wtf ima do miles & miles away? Hope she called the fu*king cops. Everybody wanna be a tough guy til some tough guy sh*t happens.

If you mom lived near cop city she wouldn’t be anymore…please learn about it before typing off what you don’t know

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unit321 said There are many police training centers around the US. You just don't see them. Usually, they build them (and fire f*ghting training centers) in out of the way places. Have you ever seen anyone protest at the existing police training center for the Atlanta police....

Do you even know why they are protesting it??? I’m going to a*sume not because of your comment

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They keep throwing money into police, but crime is still rising? Maybe throw that money into the undeserved communities (schools, job training, etc).

Let some of these people learn a trade while in high-school, and or community College. Most people just need an opportunity, so they can see a way out of thier situations.

30acreK said Do you even know why they are protesting it??? I’m going to a*sume not because of your comment view image

I know. They are environmentalists. They did not like them taking away forest areas.

30acreK said You do know they are tearing down a black community to do this right…how about learning about his situation before typing on it because it’s not knowledgeable at all. view image

A black community or a hood plague with drugs and violence? Either way life changes and moves on, most black people say they wanna leave the hood, they tear it down now they scream the opposite. Do you live in that community or work with children there?

Sounds like something the cops really need. But they can put that sh*t in Kentucky or Nebraska or some sh*t

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