Libertarian Party of Georgia Opposes Cop City Initiative, Citing Concerns Over Police Militarization and Taxpayer Burden
ATLANTA, GA – The Libertarian Party of Georgia has laid down the gauntlet in its opposition to a contentious local issue. During its inaugural Executive Committee meeting of the new term, the party passed a resolution against the proposed Cop City. This announcement has undoubtedly added another layer of complexity to an already heated public debate.
Cop City, if you haven’t been following the local news, is a proposed public safety training center slated for construction on 381 acres of forested land in Atlanta. The Atlanta City Council green-lit this project, but not everyone’s thrilled about it – least of all, the Libertarian Party of Georgia.
The Libertarian Party of Georgia’s resolution centers around several sticking points. For one, there’s the militarization of the police. With the proposed facility planning to provide military-grade training and equipment for use in civilian interactions, the Libertarian Party of Georgia is blowing the whistle and calling foul. According to them, this approach has the potential to lead to excessive force and violation of citizens’ rights – a hefty price for community safety.
Then there’s the forest. The South River Forest in DeKalb County, otherwise known as one of Atlanta’s “four lungs,” is where Cop City is set to be constructed. As far as the Libertarian Party of Georgia is concerned, that’s a problem. The party’s resolution highlights a historical lack of government accountability for environmental protection and asserts that this development project will do more harm than good.
But the Libertarian Party of Georgia’s opposition doesn’t stop at the forest line. They’re taking a stand against the weaponization of the law against peaceful opposition. In response to the recent arrests of activists supporting Cop City protesters under dubious charges, the Libertarian Party of Georgia is making it clear – they stand with the people.
To top it all off, there’s the money. The Atlanta City Council has approved $67 million of taxpayer funds for the construction of Cop City. For the Libertarian Party of Georgia, which advocates for all public services to be funded voluntarily and opposes government-incurred debt, this is a hard pill to swallow.
Brian Allen, who brought the resolution, added, “The Libertarian Party is the party of principle. As the sponsor of this resolution, I firmly believe that we must stand up for those principles and for the rights of the people of Georgia. We cannot allow the government to militarize the police, threaten the environment, or suppress peaceful dissent with taxpayers’ money. This resolution is a stand against overreach and an affirmation of our commitment to individual rights, fiscal responsibility, and environmental stewardship.”
So what’s next? The Libertarian Party of Georgia is rallying behind a “Yes” vote on the upcoming referendum to repeal the Atlanta City Council Ordinance 21-O-0367, which initially authorized the land lease for Cop City. In essence, they’re asking the people of Atlanta to say, “No more.”
The coming months will undoubtedly bring more debates, discussions, and developments. Still, one thing’s for sure – the Libertarian Party of Georgia is ready to stand its ground on Cop City.
