A Georgia judge on Tuesday dismissed dozens of racketeering charges against protesters accused of violence during demonstrations opposing Atlanta’s planned $115 million police and firefighter training facility known as “Cop City,” a ruling that state officials say turns on a procedural technicality and will be appealed.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kevin Farmer ruled that Republican Attorney General Chris Carr lacked the required authorization from Republican Gov. Brian Kemp to bring racketeering charges under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations statute. According to reporting by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the judge found that without the governor’s sign-off, the case fell under the jurisdiction of the local district attorney rather than the attorney general’s office. The New York Times similarly reported that Kemp’s approval was necessary for Carr to proceed.
The decision affects a sweeping indictment involving 61 defendants. Prosecutors alleged the group engaged in coordinated criminal activity that included throwing Molotov cocktails at police officers and providing material support, such as food, to sustain the protests, according to the Associated Press. The dismissed racketeering counts carried potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison.
The judge’s ruling did not end all prosecutions stemming from the unrest. In addition to the RICO counts, some defendants face separate charges, including domestic terrorism and first-degree arson tied to a 2023 incident in which a police car was set on fire. Judge Farmer told Carr that he did not have authority to pursue the arson charges but indicated that domestic terrorism charges could likely stand, the Associated Press reported.
Carr’s office reacted sharply, signaling that the state intends to keep pressing the case. “We strongly disagree with this decision and will continue to vigorously pursue this domestic terrorism case to ensure that justice is served,” the attorney general’s office said. Carr, who is running for governor, confirmed plans to appeal the ruling.
Defense attorneys hailed the decision as a rebuke to the prosecution. “The prosecution did not follow the law when filing these charges,” said Amanda Clark Palmer, an attorney for one of the defendants, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She added that while the dismissal brought relief, uncertainty remains while the state weighs an appeal.
The case stems from months of protests in 2022 and 2023 against the training center, which supporters say is needed to properly train officers and first responders, while opponents argued the project was too costly and would be used to target communities of color. Hundreds demonstrated after the project was announced, objecting to the facility’s price tag and purpose. Plans for the site include hotels, clubs, and modern neighborhoods designed to simulate real-world environments for training alongside local forces.
Critics of the facility have framed their opposition in broader social terms. A study from the Brookings Institution cited challenges faced by Black youth in Atlanta, including underfunded schools, environmental concerns, and declining household wealth. The study argued that the area’s development reflects what it called systemic issues tied to policing and urban design.
Supporters of the prosecution counter that the debate over policy and planning does not excuse violence, and they argue that allegations of arson and attacks on officers demand accountability regardless of political disagreements. With the attorney general moving to appeal, the legal fight over Cop City—and how far the state can go to prosecute protest-related violence—appears far from over.
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