Faith leaders in ATL were detained after a protest to challenge the Stop Cop City RICO law.

The recent RICO indictment of many prominent activists involved in the Stop Cop City movement could have been assumed to lessen the protest campaign’s intensity, however that has not been the case. In fact, a new protest instance has stirred up even more support for the cause.

On August 29th, Georgia prosecutors charged over 61 advocates for the Defend the Atlanta Forest Protest in what was deemed “extreme” cases of racketeering, creating an outcry amongst other activists and the general public decrying an inaccurate perception of the protestors’ mission.

In response to this, five faith leaders were taken into custody after chaining themselves to a bulldozer at the protest area in solidarity with those charged. This included two of the clergy from the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta.

The response of the Dekalb County Police to the peaceful protest, including possible charges against them, also contributes to the alleged growing pattern of excessive maltreatment of individuals advocating for social causes by governmental agencies.

One of the arrested faith leaders, Rev. Dave Dunn of the Metro Atlanta North Congregation, released a statement encouraging fellow supporters to not be discouraged by the looming threat. “Despite the repressive tactics of authorities who wish to disenfranchise the community and charge protestors with domestic terrorism and RICO, people of faith will continue to act to resist the militarization of our society,” he said.

The religious leaders’ inclusion in the efforts to Stop Cop City hopes to encourage all not to allow state repression to hinder them from enacting change in the community. Darcy, an involved participant in the protest, expressed the significance of the action, “By shutting down Cop City construction today, clergy and students showed that everyday people can take bold actions to block this facility from being built and that our biggest protection against repression is a movement that wins.”

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