"Massive Racketeering Indictments in Georgia's 'Stop Cop City' Movement"

Sixty-one people have been indicted in Georgia on racketeering charges related to protests against a planned police and firefighter training facility known as "Cop City." The indictment alleges that the defendants, described as "militant anarchists," supported a violent movement linked to the 2020 racial justice protests. The charges come under the state's anti-racketeering law, and most of the defendants have already faced charges for their involvement in the movement. The opposition to the training center stems from concerns about police militarization and environmental damage in a predominantly Black area. The indictment includes allegations of violence, property destruction, and intimidation. Activists leading a referendum against the project criticized the charges as "anti-democratic," while the governor praised the indictment for protecting citizens and law enforcement.