Bond Hearing Held For 'Cop City' Protesters

EAST ATLANTA, GA — Nearly two dozen people who were accused of domestic terrorism in connection with an Atlanta Public Safety Training Center protest Sunday attend a bond hearing Tuesday afternoon.

Atlanta News First is streaming the court hearing live via Zoom.

The outlet reported 100 people participated in the protest against the construction of the training center, known to opposers as "Cop City."

Atlanta Police arrested 23 people after accusing them of being among several protesters who threw Molotov cocktails, fireworks and other items at officers at the training center site near Bouldercrest and Key roads. Police said the protesters vandalized construction equipment and set it on fire.

DeKalb County Magistrate Judge Anna W. Davis denied bond for at least five people who were from out of the state, and granted at least one person with a $5,000 bond and a special condition to never return to the site of the future training center.

Two video clips of the scene were released early Monday with a third video clip released by police late Monday. The third clip provided an aerial view of the battle Sunday between law enforcement and protesters.

The Department of Public Safety said troopers responded to the scene and had rocks and "improvised explosive devices" thrown at them.

Public safety authorities accused the protesters of setting up roadblocks and barricades with tires and debris and accused them of starting a brush fire.

"The group of people fled to the wooded area where they began shooting fireworks at the troopers and attempted to blind them by shining green lasers at their eyes. A perimeter was established while troopers and officers entered the wooded area utilizing less-lethal systems," public safety authorities said in a news release.

Gov. Brian Kemp released a statement Monday on Twitter, accusing the protesters of having "radical intent."

"As I've said before, domestic terrorism will not be tolerated in this state," he said. "As we continue to respect peaceful protest, we will also continue to ensure safety in our communities. We will not rest until those who use violence and intimidation for an extremist end are brought to full justice."

Attorney General Chris Carr also released a statement on Twitter, cementing his stance on supporting the building of the training center.

"We will not tolerate this destruction of property, and we will seek to ensure that those who have engaged in this criminal behavior are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law," Carr said. "This state-of-the-art public safety training center will benefit not only police officers, firefighters and EMTs, but the entire community. ..."