An attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center was arrested for domestic terrorism in a group of 23 who allegedly violently attacked the future site of an Atlanta police training facility.
Thomas Webb Jurgens, 28, was rounded up with the other violent protesters for throwing Molotov cocktails, fireworks, rocks, and bricks at the facility.
Liberals and others have expressed outrage over plans to build a $90 million police training facility over 85 acres just outside the city.
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said that the attacks were coordinated and resulted in various pieces of construction equipment set afire.
The Georgia Department of Public Safety said some of the protesters tried to blind officers through the use of green lasers.
“This was a very violent attack, very violent attack,” said Schierbaum. “This wasn’t about a public safety training center. This was about anarchy, and this was about the attempt to destabilize, and we are addressing that quickly.”
Thirty-five people were detained, and police say there were about 100 protesters who joined in the violent attack.
The SPLC responded to the arrest with a statement claiming Jurgens was at the attack in an official capacity.
“Law enforcement detained at least 35 demonstrators in Atlanta on Sunday, including an SPLC employee who was arrested while acting — and identifying — as a legal observer,” read the statement.
“This is part of a months-long escalation of policing tactics against protesters and observers who oppose the destruction of the Weelaunee Forest to build a police training facility,” they added. “The SPLC will continue to urge de-escalation of violence and police use of force against Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities — working in partnership to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements and advance the human rights of all people.”
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issued a statement of condemnation over the attack.
“As I’ve said before, domestic terrorism will NOT be tolerated in this state,” said Kemp. “We will not rest until those who use violence and intimidation for an extremist end are brought to full justice.”
A report from WSLV-TV about the attack emphasized that the facility was approved by Republicans and Democrats at the state and city level “who are white black and brown.”
Here’s more on the domestic terror attack in Atlanta:
35 detained after violence at Atlanta ‘Cop City’ police training sitewww.youtube.com
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