On Sunday evening, the Atlanta Police Department released shocking video showing a group of Antifa protestors sneaking into the building site for a potential police training center while completely covered in black clothing.
Around 150 rioters were shown in the Facebook video setting off fireworks as they approached the future Public Safety Training Facility in Atlanta, which opponents have dubbed “Cop City,” while wearing ski masks and camouflage.
The fireworks then exploded close to several surrounding police officers. Later in the video, some of the group’s members could be seen putting together riot shields while motioning for others to join them.
The Atlanta Police Department issued the following statement:
“On March 5, 2023, a group of violent agitators used the cover of a peaceful protest of the proposed Atlanta Public Safety Training Center to conduct a coordinated attack on construction equipment and police officers. They changed into black clothing and entered the construction area and began to throw large rocks, bricks, Molotov cocktails, and fireworks at police officers. The agitators destroyed multiple pieces of construction equipment by fire and vandalism. Multiple law enforcement agencies deployed to the area and detained several people committing illegal activity. 35 agitators have been detained so far.”
It went on to say that the agitators’ unlawful conduct may have caused physical injury. Police made arrests while exercising restraint and non-lethal force.
The Atlanta Police Department, along with other law enforcement agencies, has a multi-layered strategy that includes response and arrest in light of the upcoming protests.
The Atlanta Police Department requests that there be no violence during this week’s protests.
The Atlanta Public Safety Training Center is a building in DeKalb County that has previously hosted protests and resulted in the death of a demonstrator. Atlanta Police Commissioner Darin Schierbaum acknowledged that multiple pieces of construction equipment were set on fire at the site on Sunday during a midnight press conference.
The factory was shown in security video to have a burning piece of large gear. Numerous pieces of construction equipment were damaged in the incident, according to officials.
