Help Stop Atlanta's "Cop City"

This is an interview with activist and social commentator Kamau Franklin who works with Community Movement Builders, Stop Cop City, and the Atlanta Solidarity Fund. We're talking about a major issue facing Atlanta and likely much of the nation going forward, the encroaching militarization and growth of the police state.
Please if you can connect with one of the following entities listed here to find out a way you can help and support stopping Cop City!
twitter
@KamauFranklin
@CommunityMvt
@Defend the Atlanta Forest
@Atlanta Solidarity Fund
Website
Stop Cop City stopcop.city/
Atlanta Solidarity Fund atlsolidarity.org/
Community Movement Builders communitymovementbuilders.org/

[@FDSignifire]

Are yall seeing mid roll ads on this?

[@jeremymurphy9360]

Nope

[@DJ-lc5wy]

Not sure, I have KZbin Premium

[@austinrm]

Nope

[@radicaledward3783]

Canadian here, i don't see any.

[@ayoacatlcincinrojas829]

No add break but I’m not at that part of the video

[@AzureTheAvian]

There’s only a handful of reasons why a country would turn their police into a military force. And all of them are terrifying.

[@SGR403]

What are they?

[@Firegodot]

@@SGR403 1. You live in an actually dangerous country like Honduras and Mexico where organized crime isn't really afraid of the law because the government is corrupt on many levels so the escalation of violence leads to police turning into more of a military force 2. You have an Authoritarian Regime in power that wants to use fear to stop any signs of uprisings, protests and different opinions in general so they use cops as a military force to keep people in check. Note that those two are not mutually exclusive and actually one often leads to the other, in fact most goverment lie about having one to justify doing the other you can actually see it with the whole war on drugs bullshit that reagan pulled out of his ass in order to justify lobbying for bigger budgets for the police that lead to its further militarization on the US...

[@razablanco3766]

Yeah, when a certain culture is killing themselfs off at record time.

[@theawesomesandbox]

Really? Watching from the EU, where the police is chill-er that has already happened in the US and some attempts have been made to replicate that here. So it's not really a shock to call the US police militarized in terms of training, facilities and equipment.

[@hamdemon8511]

It depends on what the criminals are like. The leftists are certainly armed and violent. Hell, they've been attacking government facilities and extraterritorislizing the nations land. Sounds like a military problem to me.

[@meredithmclaughin9911]

Hearing " the police couldnt even handle the conversation without turning it into "youre either with us or against us"" is honestly eye opening. Its so true

[@hopefulmonsters4407]

Seriously!

[@Columbiana777]

I am not surprised their fragility and refusal to acknowledge their privileges create harm to others. If you turn a blind eye to the behavior they might throw you a bone.

[@bleakautomaton4808]

The same cops who would crowd people under bridges to then tear gas them relentlessly, it is even more unsettling to hear someone pushing for being 'even tougher on crime' - like more death/mysterious 'suicides' in jail with no camera footage!? Gd chilling.

[@BePatientSeeLove]

Sad too

[@sadboijokes]

It’s eye opening because it’s like they’re clearly not considering themselves as part of the communities they’re supposedly sworn to protect. If they were, they would be trying to have a dialogue WITH the community rather than drawing that line in the sand. And that’s one of the biggest issues with cops. They don’t consider themselves as citizens but as something slightly above that which gives them authority over others who are considered “lower.”

[@AliveBoldTV]

The parallels with the Palestinian situation is honestly scary. And internalized racism is really dangerous. The myth of Black excellence got folx out here scrambling to roll over the next man for an illusion.

[@ButWhyMe...]

Some people call it a genocide, but I can't really understand - Would you mind explaining?

[@squigeyjoe823]

@@ButWhyMe... what do you want to know?

[@ButWhyMe...]

@@squigeyjoe823 What exactly are Palestinians going through.

[@xDCAxNexus]

​@@ButWhyMe... Late, but they are going through the following: the Israeli government bulldozing their homes to replace them with housing for Israelis, expelling them from Palestine into neighboring countries that can barely support them, harsh policing of Palestinian people with excessive jail time and beatings for the faintest resistance, disproportionate group punishment responses against Palestinian civilians whenever Hamas launches their paltry munitions into Israeli controlled territory, refusing productive negotiations with Palestinians, etc. They are quite literally cleansing the ethnicity of the Palestinian Arab from the land that they stole and continue to steal.

[@pranavgoel9978]

It is such a cross-cutting justice issue. Cops, climate change and deforestation, direct democracy, racism, authoritarianism, facism.

[@StopCopCity1312]

🏴

[@bleakautomaton4808]

@@zero1188 Isolating/gating off an area for 'crowd controlling' training grounds, aka less community ties to the police there to 'serve and protect' said communities is bad. I don't think you watched the video, especially the part where the public wasn't able to actually engage with the discussion until people in communities spoke up about elected officials acting out of the favor of the people.

[@bloodthunder301]

@Bleak Automaton wasn't there a big ass riots in 2020 in Atlanta? An there is going to be less police? How about retraining and having close ties to police look at Portland orgeon where antifa made there own city block where it failed miserably and tried to make there own police and failed... People don't know shit and are corrupt..

[@bleakautomaton4808]

@@bloodthunder301 Way to show what's under your mask with bad faith feigning ignorance and bringing up your boogeyman antifa. You are clearly so for truth as to never think or question the militarization of police, go to your forum buddies and let 'em know how you 'owned' some loser today lol.

[@bloodthunder301]

@Bleak Automaton Bad faith when I'm brining common sense into the equation.. Antifa is a real thing and you are assuming I'm part of a group which thinks a certain way is a strongman argument. An I'm against the militarization of police.. So stop putting words in my mouth

[@OptimisticAudience]

When he said "Black Mayors have served their purpose" re: gentrificaiton, I think he crystalized so much of Atlanta's political history to me.

[@EsotericThoughts93]

Basically any black city mayor in the south. That’s the only way they’re “allowed into” office. It’s messed up

[@djodude1]

As an Israeli who has watched the Palestinian struggle ignored, erased, and distorted by most media my whole life, thank you for bringing attention to this very real connection. End to apartheid and colonization everywhere!

[@ButWhyMe...]

I've heard some people even refer to it as a genocide. Would you mind explaining it a bit?

[@chronometer9931]

End apartheid in Canada!

[@acbower4468]

Why the struggles of the Palestinians are real, can we address a hypothetical… In your heart of hearts, what do you think would happen to Jews in Israel if the IDF left their posts, the walls came down and Gaza and the West Bank were open? They would be slaughtered.

[@davechongle]

⁠@@acbower4468you could say that of pretty much any country today. if your oppressors dropped their guard, would you not take that opportunity to stop the oppression? especially against a ruler and organization as terribly cruel as the IDF. that doesnt change the fact that the government of israel almost literally made Hamas themselves, much like how the US influence created terrorist orgs in the middle east.

[@ghifarraad8392]

Charging activists and protestors with "domestic terrorism" is how the Syrian regime managed to police our uprising and eventually justified bombing entire cities. I hope no one experiences that and power to the people of Atlanta and every place where people are demanding their basic human rights.

[@JeanLucDickhard]

Praying the Atlanta PD doesn't start bombing parts of Atlanta. 🙏

[@AzureTheAvian]

God, I’m so sorry for all the Syrian activists… I’m scared that the US isn’t far behind on that front, too. The more time goes on, the more terrified I am of living here. I just wish I could do more to support the protests.

[@Robstafarian]

It has been about fifty years since Philadelphia PD burned down multiple blocks by bombing MOVE; it seems pretty clear that the lessons have been forgotten.

[@zrl1017]

Just fyi, that type of stuff will never happen in America because we have the right to bear arms. Unless the government wants a civil war, which they’d probably lose, they will never take things to the extreme of bombing civilians.

[@zrl1017]

@@AzureTheAvianyou do realize we have the right to bear arms correct? We are extremely far from experiencing anything like Syria 😂

[@tylachad6102]

I’ve been saying this. People think it’s a “shortage” of police and that’s why they’re mass hiring. No, they’re trying to fill the streets with cops. I see police SOOOOOO much more than I’ve ever saw them here in Atlanta. Cop city is just boot camp for more militant cops. The only thing that gives me a little hope is that a lot of Atlanta cops are black and from these neighborhoods. (At least in my opinion) APD is one of the more relaxed departments around Atlanta.

[@LostBoysBasketball]

I stay in Atlanta too and all of this is factual 💯

[@TT-xz5sy]

Probably cause the crime is getting worse.

[@liveoak227]

@@TT-xz5sy those of us who remember the crime in the 80s and 90s aren't impressed

[@nondescriptname]

@@TT-xz5sy Gee, I wonder why crime might be getting worse. I wonder if it could have anything at all to do with economic instability, rising inequality, shrinking opportunities, and continued systemic racist violence. I guess we'll never know. Ugh. Fuckiin' people, man.

[@lastfirst9101]

@@liveoak227 yall be saying that like it's honorable😂that was 40 and 30 years ago WITH CRACK. In MODERN TIMES crime, especially violent ones, are increasing.

[@cattibingo]

Didn't a while ago a former cop in Atlanta revealed that they were told to constantly write tickets/do arrests at a specific apartment complex because the landlord wanted to tear it down and build new expensive "luxury" apartments? So to do that they tried to get everyone evicted and cops helped by arresting/citing so it would be literally impossible for the people to pay rent

[@System_Anomaly]

Can't find this, does anyone have the source?

[@yingyang7448]

@@System_Anomaly Hopefully someone finds the source soon, otherwise the 36 people that liked Cattitbingo's comment are just going with the flow and not fact checking.

[@preciousbeing2442]

@@System_Anomaly This is true. The officer's name is Tom Gissler. You can easily find it with a Google search.

[@aesanonymous8936]

@@yingyang7448 *The Cop Who Quit Instead of Helping to Gentrify Atlanta* It talks about the story of Tom Gissler and the apartment complex.

[@deedeedan8681]

@@preciousbeing2442 Yeah, I just looked it up too and all i can think is....wtf. Also if someone wants to search for it themselves I put in "Tom Gissler cop quits force". Its not hard to fin

[@unwillingly_will]

Damn, as a British gal that doesn't keep up as much as I should with stuff over the Atlantic, especially in the south, when I glossed over the term 'cop city' I assumed that was just a descriptor for drastic overpolicing throughout Atlanta; now I learn it's a literal sci fi nightmare situation, a city within a city to fester a pure culture of 'us and them,' with expert training in militaristic violence too. Hope you guys are successful at getting the bastards out. Good luck and much love

[@choronos]

If we're not successful resisting the fascists here in the US, may god have mercy on the rest of the world.

[@wade13murphy]

Well he was picking using the right vocabulary. He said they have a helipad for a black hawk helicopter. He could have just said the facility will include a helipad, no need to make it sound scary.

[@unwillingly_will]

@¿Wonder Man? he's a lefty essayist, it's his job to make otherwise boring ideas and concepts interesting to people that aren't as politically active. Also my dude I'm not sure on what planet this situation isn't scary, regardless of how detailed the description of the helipad is. Peace and love but pls try and gain a wider perspective

[@shuheihisagi6689]

@@wade13murphy Instead of building more armed forces, we should help the communities with high poverty and crime by providing resources and opportunities for poor families. Encourage local business ownership instead of committing arm robberies. This is a socio-economic problem and it is being solved by a militarized police force. This is only going to end in more crime and death, that is what cops are needed for. They get paid more if we have more crime.

[@nebuler1]

@@wade13murphy it's very notable that they want to have a black hawk. That is in no way meant for traffic or man hunt operations. It IS terrifying.

[@pisceanbeauty2503]

I love that this dropped as Renegade Cut released a video on police underreporting of hate crimes. I am fearful we are repeating the mistakes of the past with this hyper mobilization of police in response to perceived, exaggerated, and sometimes real increases in crime nationwide. I’m seeing people who should know better parrot the “tough on crime” rhetoric of the 80’s and 90’s. I have been feeling so uneasy for sometime about the growing authoritarianism, and public acceptance of it.

[@warwatcher91]

It's amazing how much damage 3 little words have wrought in the last several decades.

[@socialrose3070]

I think it's worth pointing out like in this video at the beginning talking about how ~60% of the pop doesn't support cop city, the same is true of not supporting tough on crime law making for the majority of people nationwide. The reason things like this are being passed is because the lawmakers themselves overwhelmingly support such initiatives for various reasons, whether that be corruption, they've been cops, or just outright support the police. Politicians are very bourgeois, in my city, for example, every person sitting on the city council owns their own business, and the same is true for most people sitting on city councils in the United States. That uneasy feeling is certainly valid, because most of the people in power are now starting to just openly invite fascism or are laying the ground work for fascists if they do take over.

[@paultapping9510]

that combined with the near constant "democracy doesn't work" rhetoric is super unnerving. Many supposedly liberal countries appear to be sleepwalking into Fascism. Again.

[@socialrose3070]

@@paultapping9510 I agree, but it also depends on where people take that line of thinking. The sentiment I think is true, capitalism and democracy are pretty incompatible, but you can take that in a therefore we need a more authoritarian capitalist economy, or therefore we need to get rid of capitalism and find some new form of organizing the economy based on democratic values like socialism, anarchism, ect.

[@paultapping9510]

@Social Rose to paraphrase slightly, Capitalism's greatest trick was convincing the world that it and Democracy are synonymous. Capitalism is a disgusting abusive system of control that is, for a variety of reasons, deeply corrosive to the Greater Good and absolutely needs to be rethought, and soon. Democracy on the other hand, I'm less inclined to dismiss as a lost cause (though obviously in need of some serious revisions).

[@jojoone1099]

This sounds like a pilot program that will spread across the country.

[@lindsaytoles2023]

All the more reason to oppose it now. Chilling...

[@maxxidle]

💯 You can bet it is already happening. The elites know the younger generations are way more "radical" than their predecessors. Millenials are not getting more conservative as they age and that terrifies them.

[@OverthrowMedia]

They actually tried it in seattle first, but there were a bunch of us who came together and stopped it. The campaign against it was called blockthebunker.

[@lindsaytoles2023]

@@maxxidle who, me? I'm just a little old millennial, don't mind me... I just voted a few times, it's harmless...

[@jusletursoulglobaby]

it most CERTAINLY will. Biden told folks no defund police and championed more funding for police

[@christopherpoff4117]

I was, well... trapped in Atlanta over the holiday in as much I intended to be with family in a different state. Even just around the airport, the neighborhood around it, the police presence was conspicuous. I probably saw more Georgian cops than Texan cops last year just being in Atlanta across three days.

[@lindsaytoles2023]

I can only imagine the feelings of powerlessness and rage of that neighborhood, having a tower for lethal narcissists built in their backyard.

[@eminatorstudios]

One of the few cases where "not in my backyard" is a valid and good stance

[@LC-sc3en]

@@eminatorstudios honestly with climate change anyone who's going to lose forest or natural habitat space for a development has a good reason. This one is a double whammy with what they want to build there. It's the people in wealthy neighborhoods that refuse to allow density, low income, or infrastructure projects that have no leg to stand on

[@kf8113]

What makes them narcissists? These people think they're doing the right thing, which gives them the perfect excuse to do anything they want.

[@sora4440]

I live over in that area and most ppl are ok with it. Especially with how bad crime has gotten...

[@mewmew6158]

@@sora4440 that's even sadder, capitalism has really rotted people's ability to imagine better for themselves and others.

[@byrrnitdown]

“Cop City” is chilling enough even without the context - thank you for putting this out there!

[@the2ndcoming135]

Jesus...😏

[@TheMusicalFruit]

Atlanta City Council: We heard your cries of "Defund of the Police" loud and clear and will be building a 90 million dollar police playground as a result.

[@stinkmonger]

perfect example of why liberal activism is woefully insufficient

[@conscientiousobserver7444]

Crime is real in Atlanta though lol

[@JP-hj1il]

@@conscientiousobserver7444 crime is real and your cops doesn't solve them nor they deter it. There are enough studies on this.

[@XHitsugaX]

​@@conscientiousobserver7444 cops never deter crime. Especially not in the US. Crime reduction is based on wealth disparity reduction, rising education standards and improved social services.

[@Poglavnit_Pferdefuhrer]

Half the time the cops are *committing it!* Just look at Detroit, Chicago, LA, Baltimore, etc...

[@elonevora]

So happy you had Kamau on the channel. Always energized after hearing him speak. Stop Cop City.

[@starlostlovers]

Thank you for talking about this, from the bottom of my heart. It’s shocking how little coverage this has had, and the people on the ground have been so diligent in their resistance.

[@Dimitri791]

NINETY MILLION 😬 thats enough to house 180 ppl OWNING THEIR HOME, or could pay SEVEN THOUSAND peoples rent for a year. This is so frustrating. I hope this can still get shut down (EDIT: math)

[@warwatcher91]

It's depressing that right wingers will support this or pumping millions into a corrupt government in Afghanistan, yet in the same breath will condemn any kind of welfare.

[@davispo7550]

75,000 people's rent for a month (or 6,250 for a year) is closer, but the point still stands

[@Dimitri791]

@@davispo7550 oops u right

[@Robstafarian]

There is always money to hurt unwanted people.

[@majornija]

Why would they do that when their goal is to kill all people who are not able to think critically or take care of themselves?

[@tsawasanchez9571]

Justice for Manuel “Tortuguita” Terán who was murdered by police violence for protesting against cop city

[@theorderofthebees7308]

🙏

[@ALIGlobal]

It’s scary, I used to get a text from a friend, whose parents were cops, called quota day. Tried to move back to my hood, were price out by business cash buying the homes. Now Bankhead, is the West Buckhead. Crazy!!!

[@warwatcher91]

Seeing this going on in Atlanta makes me wonder if there's plans for more Cop Cities going on in other cities around the country.

[@cryptbeast3222]

There has been and there are.

[@candyh4284]

absolutely. this isn't the first attempt at this kind of complex either - was in the PNW first, but it failed due to the civilian protest and backlash.

[@hopsonkim4952]

@@candyh4284 “shocking” that’s it’s happening in the most leftist areas in the PNW and the most successful Black cities like Atlanta.

[@candyh4284]

@@hopsonkim4952 whaaat, police targeting of socialists and racial minorities? that sounds WHOLLY unlike them!

[@mewmew6158]

The fact that the gov. keeps trying this is genuinely scary, we need less cops and they know it.

[@fjr4205]

Thank you for hosting Mr. Franklin and sharing this info! The environmental implications are almost as scary as the authoritarian ones!

[@pakiroh]

Thank you for using your platform to organize!

[@squigeyjoe823]

There has been Palestinian-African American solidarity since the 1960s because the same imperial forces that are used against the Palestinians internationally, are used against African Americans domestically within the US. A recent example of this solidarity and overlap, was during the Ferguson protests where Palestinians were tweeting to protestors how best to deal with the tear gas that was being used against them, because it was tear gas that had been tested on the Palestinians. This is one of the reasons the Panthers focus on internationalism was so astute, as the forces of imperialism and colonialism are globalised and a threat to all marginalised people, they are quite literally training together in how best to oppress us!

[@leechgrl]

protests around the country. Solidarity with Atlanta and the brave protestors giving their lives to stop deforestation and cop city 🖤❤️🔥🔥

[@Lee-is6db]

I'm just finding this video now but Tort was a friend while they lived in Tallahassee. Thank you so so much for bringing attention to this. Even now a year later, we're still fighting to stop cop city from being built. Tortuguita vive, la lucha sigue.

[@snotperson]

High school senior from California. Did a presentation in my civics class on this. I feel like everyone should know cuz cop city could set a really dangerous precedent.

[@TheVerucAssault]

Atlanta lost police during the pandemic. There are assaults, robberies, and homicides there regularly in predominantly black areas and neighborhoods. I hope you explained to your class why having less police is a good thing in that regard.

[@snotperson]

@Jason Flake never denied that lol

[@kingjacko302]

If you make peacefully protesting have the same consequences as getting violent, you’re going to have more violence. Hoping that more channels can pick what is going on up to stop the insanity of labeling these protesters as terrorists.

[@cryptbeast3222]

It might finally break the mindset that only peaceful protests are valid forms of resistance.

[@mewmew6158]

Charging and/or labeling peaceful protesters as domestic terrorists is truly a dangerous and scary precedent. Honestly, I hope there are more widespread sharing of this information because we need more organized attempts at stopping this continuation of normalizing fascism.

[@sora4440]

Peaceful lol. I guess setting bombs and guns to blow up and shoot people is considered peaceful...

[@mltaber]

Thanks so much for putting the light on this, Kamau is so right that one of the primary tools of the state is isolation of activists, this solidarity is much appreciated

[@prinxe4230]

Some of the comments on this is full on depressing. We can do better than having a police state. Thank you for spreading the word FD.

[@princessjellyfish98]

thank you for talking about this!!!! it was so frustrating going into the last mayoral election seeing all the fear-mongering about crime rates with the threat of this new facility constantly looming. Kamau's point at 11:50 is SO important. if something like this was happening in a wealthy white municipality, it would absolutely be a separate issue on the local ballot, not something left to investors to parse out in board rooms. anyone reading this who's not from Atlanta, PLEASE share this information, check out the orgs in the description, etc. SO much is at stake: increased police violence and surveillance, the destruction of the environment, the impact of this will be widespread. it can be so overwhelming sometimes being online and hearing about injustice and not having anywhere specific to focus your energy. this is the time to come together and act!!!

[@SantaFishes101]

hi :)

[@Velo_Jello]

Sounds like a military outpost - except with less accountability for the "soldiers".

[@anamoose461]

Ever heard of a little thing called Riotsville? The military literally built fake cities on military bases for basically the exact same reasons and purpose as cop city

[@CatStar4]

I am a late 2000's vet, and this "Cop City" Screams military base. This all sounds like things we had at basic training and that is honestly terrifying.

[@realMacMadame]

The militarization of the police absolutely terrifies me. I don't understand why it doesn't terrify more people. Growing up poor, I saw what the police did to marginalized groups and will never trust them even now that I am middle class and living in "2020's Happiest City" (eye roll). These are the last people we want to have tanks and rocket launchers.

[@CatStar4]

@@realMacMadame And like, unlike the military who at least attempts to teach some kind of de-escalation, I knew a cop for a while and they showed that the police are trained to be jumpy fucks, where at least in 2008 that was frowned upon because you could start an international incident, so I especially hate the idea of people already trained to be jumpy having military grade weapons. I wouldn't want them to have a regular grenade, much less a rocket or grenade launcher.

[@JawnLouis]

Just came across this video and I actually just dropped a video essay on the police state in black neighborhoods with the use of shot spotter listening devices 24/7 police cameras and other programs on top of facial recognition false positives on black people

[@avtsu5434]

protesters being charged with dom*stic t*r*sm is a really bad sign, i think. here in australia, our economy is very dependent on coal and other mined resources, so our government has been extremely reluctant to act on climate change, leading to a lot of environmental protests. there are strong civil disobedience movements around the country focused on climate justice, but within the last few years the cops have become more and more violent with them, the charges they've faced have been more jumped-up, and a few have been sentenced to extended jail time. meanwhile the government, particularly in nsw, have been passing bills restricting the right to protest. the T word - particularly eco- t - being thrown around was the start of this crackdown.

[@OverthrowMedia]

The state apparatus is adding more police specifically because they know this nation is destabilizing. They need the police to continue to become more and more a standing military. Also, the black bourgeoisie and petite bourgeoisie have always been a crucial part of the expansion of the police state and gentrification. Even in these conversations, their privilege and perspective is prioritized over the black proletariats, and especially lumpen proletariats survival. While the lumpen proletariat tend to be the ones doing the work fighting against our oppression that the Petite bourgeoisie co-opt for their clout and/or content.

[@StopCopCity1312]

+

[@Turnoutburndown]

That was wild about the political power that police unions have. It reminded me of this idea that when a government gets overthrown the next group that takes over is the military. Because they are the most organized, well funded and connected. I bet the same is true of the police.

[@19cosmo91]

This is my 1st time hearing of this and I also live in Atlanta. Thanks to both of you for bringing this to my attention. I'm definitely going to be raising awareness about this issue locally.

[@Ourdirtytwo]

In support? Because the only way to have well trained officers in a growing city is by having this

[@worldeditor6985]

Some algorithm advice for ensuring a video gets traction, do a livestream first and then end the livestream as the video gets uploaded (while encouraging people to go watch the video, like and comment). This makes the video gets a bunch of views initially making youtube spread it around more.

[@StopCopCity1312]

Liking videos isn't enough anymore. Gotta leave a comment too.

[@worldeditor6985]

@@StopCopCity1312 fax, allot of people giving a little time helps a video allot.

[@biggsly]

If crime is supposedly so bad doesn't that mean that the police are unable/unwilling to properly do their jobs and need be replaced or removed?

[@Megatron_James_Brady8121]

Replaced!?? Removed??!!? Fawk No!!! When dumb niggas try and do dumb nigga shit.... ima need 12 ASAP.....

[@adrianguinn3331]

No. Because cops dont stop crime. Never have. If they did the areas with the most cops would have the least crime. Its the opposite. Every single time. Cops arent mind readers. This isnt MINORITY REPORT. If someone comes into a conversation about law enforcement with this nonsense just ignore em. Theyre playing with faulty equipment and should be kept in the kiddie pool. Let the grown folk handle it.

[@geekylove3603]

How can a cop stop you (for example) walking across the street and shooting me in the face? Minority Report is probably 20 years away.

[@marinblaze]

Yeah, blame everyone but the criminals

[@yvans.73]

This is horrific. Thank you both for spreading the word, because this sounds like something they plan on spreading across the country

[@jazzknh1105]

This is ludicrous, it's like something out of Judge Dredd but worse. And they have the gall to say it's about 'crime stopping'. Who do they think they're fooling?

[@the2ndcoming135]

Rappers

[@maiawells9597]

Thank you for boosting this with your platform. It’s been years of fighting this and I hope we can finally kick it to the curb.

[@SkullPrism]

Watching this after the Atlanda police murdered a land defender standing against "Cop City" just really gives this sense of doom and dread.

[@outboardgull5285]

Just chipped in $20 bucks to the Atlanta Solidarity Fund. Thanks for bringing attention to this!! 1312

[@LC-sc3en]

Donated to the solidarity fund. I can't be there but I appreciate all who are working so hard to stop this. This shouldn't happen anywhere in the US and if it is not stopped here it will happen almost everywhere. Cops seem to have the same type of "keep up with the Jones's" syndrome as a 15 year old boy obsessed with the Marines.

[@smallguy2]

Land of the free, so long as you ignore the prison system...

[@ebuslamentee5963]

Yeah bro if people are breaking the peace they need some actual punishment to put them into line like Singapore, but maybe scaled down a bit for weed trafficking

[@LordBaNZa]

What would the ideal behavior for an elected official in the Metro Atlanta area be. If I was going to call my Rep/Senator or even go down to the Capitol building, what should I be saying?

[@truthspeeker1]

Hey everybody I just went through all the links in the Vid description, all of them have donation pages. I highly encourage all of you to donate If you can It's a real tangible way you can help stop this!

[@russlcorey]

I made a video complaining about how my city’s police budget is out of control. Even here in Eugene Oregon, our police budget skyrocketing while our police commissioner is complaining about being spread thin. I also showed that there are less incidents reported so they are literally doing less work but still getting an ever increasing budget.

[@GenericUrbanism]

Great video

[@lilrocky2640]

It’s gross how EPD harasses homeless people for simply existing.

[@russlcorey]

@@lilrocky2640 I agree. Im going to try to make a video about how police treat the homeless in Eugene.

[@kerishaw8991]

@@russlcorey please do! I am from Eugene and super interested.

[@russlcorey]

@@kerishaw8991 For sure! 😃

[@slaughterhome]

Here to support my dawg. Peace and love.

[@ashleighbloom9156]

thank you so much for boosting this on your platform, cop city genuinely terrifies me as an atlanta resident and it pisses me off how much the city council and the apd have twisted themselves into pretzels trying to justify building this facility on public land despite massive pushback from their own constituents.

[@feykingjulian]

From what I've heard from friends who have done work protesting and demonstrating down there - they can always use more people!! Seriously they are always saying we can come down whenever, anything you can do helps even if it's just physically being around in the forest, helping people stay hydrated, whatever.

[@williammartin3451]

Thank you so much for all of this. And hope everyone who sees this keeps hope and keeps that fire in their belly.

[@williammartin3451]

@Jason Flake you lurk around videos of activists and insult people lamely. Sure dude, you must be a big winner.

[@steampoweredmaniac5359]

The amount of contemporary (not even within the the year but also from up to 10 year old) "news" clips I received through my feed, where subject matter was predominantly "watch this black man rob or assault said nonblack victim", was eyeopening. KZbin/Google is really trying to peddle the fear.

[@wkyt9324]

They're just mimicking traditional U.S. media practices.

[@Nai-qk4vp]

@@wkyt9324 Like when the lying mainstream media showed pictures of supposed hundreds of thousands of protesters marching against the Cuban government and in fact it was a March celebrating the anniversaey of the revolution.

[@NV555_82nd]

@@Nai-qk4vp we do agree on one thing the lying mainstream media.

[@dimitriid]

This honestly sounds like School of the Americas 2.0: Except now it's targetting their own citizens but if the tactics passed there are the same or even close (And I suspect they will be) then that's supremely important to immediately stop.

[@cryptbeast3222]

A lot of the tactics used in the school of Americas has long been used by cops towards black communities in America. As terrible as they are now, they were much worse in the past. Same torture techniques, including mutilating methods for further targeting specific individuals to water boarding. Cointelpro to infiltrate and destroy radical left wing black organizations inside out. This just concentrates them into a base to wage similar street wars on cities across America.

[@candyh4284]

There was a quote, I can't find who said it, but it said that "Fascism is imperialism turned inwards."

[@xBINARYGODx]

@@candyh4284 must be taken from a quote that said the opposite, which is equally true (imperialism is fascism pushed overseas, or whatever it was)

[@candyh4284]

@@xBINARYGODx that does sound right! it's killing me that i can't find this...

[@candyh4284]

@@zero1188 to what end are you asking this? because the answer varies

[@simmerslodraw]

HELL YEAH! And support the kids who are getting charged rn!

[@ravendreaming3966]

Oh, I've been ikeeping an eye on this! Sent some postcards to two of the people that were arrested protesting this shit.

[@eggsburst789]

This sounds concerning

[@donovan5656]

Just donated to the ATL Solidarity Fund. Hope it helps.

[@MystiqMiu]

Glad to see you highlighting this to a larger audience, it feels like we're the testing ground rn....

[@Valkyrie_of_The_North]

Thanks for the updated and detailed breakdown of whats going on in the fight against pig city

[@giovannybaez2648]

I get so many of your videos in my recommended but I had to actively search for this one

[@8pija22]

Glad to see more eyes on this issue

[@frannie4310]

Thank you for bringing attention to this! I’m a Georgian and am involved in the fight against cop city, but it’s barely talked about on the internet. Great video! Stop cop city!

[@ValerietheLovelyDeadlyItalian]

Ill be dure to share this!! Thanks FD!

[@thexalon]

When it comes to cops asking for tons of stuff, NWA expressed my opinion better than 1000 academic papers.

[@Elias-wf9so]

One thing I learned from this video is that class precedes everything.

[@geraldgreen6794]

Community Movement Builders are awesome solidarity ✊🏾

[@kfighterkfighterTBTR]

THANK YOU FOR THIS BROADCAST & BRO KAMAU'S GREAT EXPLANATION OF COP CITY. SHARING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 💯💯 SUBSCRIBED!!

[@matthewmorris6378]

We started teaching active duty US soldiers crowd control tactics in 2010 following the Fort Hood shooting in '09. Civilians can't counter this without community organization willing and able to turn out more free people then officers and soldiers can be deployed to an area. Like hundreds inside an hour to a neighborhood. AND it would have to be well-organized to make sure unsavory elements within the community organizations don't undermine their goals and make their communities more vulnerable (police and military fire disobedient subordinates...this makes the majority follow orders and reduces internal power struggles).

[@vlogily8043]

Politicians get paid off in a variety of different ways whether campaign funds or other weird quid pro quo things that are ridiculously legal. They also get coerced in other ways, start to realize who they actually have to thank or curry favor to when they get elected, they also get new support and “advisers” because that’s the person who got elected, so anyone who is not outright partisan will line up to see what they can get out of the elected official

[@airsevens]

Atlanta solidarity fund

[@radicalselfie]

Community Movement Builders stay on it! I really appreciate you highlighting the work happening here. Vital!

[@codycarlson9804]

Thanks for covering this!!

[@TheAwsomeSawse]

I have no idea how they get the public to go along with the corporate adaptation of fascism.

[@kimnabi3988]

$

[@nicholashall3117]

This just sounds like a state side and state funded military base to dispatch on the people. Which should be FUCKING ALARMING! We as a people need to be sharpening our tongues as well as our sticks... ✊🏾

[@hunterlangley8287]

Keep fighting the good fight.

[@ParistonHxH]

61 charged with RICO charges for the Stop Cop City group

[@antiroman458]

​@@ParistonHxHOf course they were! No good deed goes unpunished. It is proof that they are effective at what they are doing. "It is good to be attacked by the enemy" where they fall more will come up behind them. More will be charged, even killed like Tortugita(sp) but we will not stop!

[@jacobjonesofmagna]

A 100-Acre police compound is a scary idea in any city in my opinion, let alone so nearby predominantly black communities in the US.

[@Thanosdidtherighthing]

How so? If you aren’t committing crimes , there’s no reason to worry.

[@pinarchives]

kamau calling gentrification ethnic cleansing was eye opening. like he's 100% right, i'd just never heard it put that way. will be using that talking point myself now

[@grmpEqweer]

It is. Back in the 90's I heard the joke: Urban Renewal = N€gr0 removal. ...Although I want to note it's intersectional, it's not always black people but it's always poorish people, and it's whoever doesn't have the $$$power coupons to fight. The same as the way toxic pollution sources get sited?... Not always black, not always nonwhite, but always without enough money and connections to fight what's getting shoved on them? And because of systemic racism, nonwhite people have less money/resources on the whole.

[@ebuslamentee5963]

How else are you going to fix the hoods and reverse inequalities

[@noobking3000]

Thank you so much for using your platform to talk about this fight. It is worldwide

[@zachklieman2141]

I really appreciate the sociology reference to the point of creating criminalization. The connection to Israel is also terrifying and very telling

[@joeybaddog398]

This is terrifying-thanks for posting FD

[@kinaraqi]

This is absolutely terrifying dystopic shit.

[@Smile-ni9nc]

This sounds so scary! Thank you for shining a light on this issue

[@Wewillwin778]

Happy to see Kamau on the your channel.

[@empatheticrambo4890]

It's really sad to hear the double talk of people supporting a project while on the other hand claiming to support communities. I don't know how to help people understand the funding is going to the wrong things

[@boriskarhop]

thank you for speaking out on this. as i'm sure you know now cops murdered an unarmed forest defender and are accusing them of having shot first. this issue needs more pressure from more than just the neighbors whose lives are at stake.

[@tiny7235]

Thank you for hosting Kamau Franklin and making this video

[@sohamkar874]

Leaving a comment to boost this on the algorithm, Stop Cop City!

[@emmalinehawthorne3922]

Did all the algorithm things. Thanks for putting these type of videos on your channel.

[@DylanFergusC]

More people need to know about this. There was so much more awareness about the problems with the police a couple years ago

[@bananaboatcharlie]

Obligatory algorithm comment 🖖

[@betweenyourloveandmine]

This kind of militarization of police is really scary.

[@Itharl]

"You don't want to end up like your cousins". Oof, did that hit home for me. I grew up in a predominantly white, retiree suburb while my literal cousins lived across the railroad tracks in the "higher policed areas", my parents bought into this idea 100% and I know they were not alone in that generation. Never realized how insidious that mindset was until now when I'm in my 40s. I'm very thankful for all my blessings and opportunities that getting an education did afford me, but oof. Outcomes were very different for my cousins.

[@JakubLateef]

Very insightful conversation on this important topic.

[@TheFysh]

I had originally passed this video up until i saw your tweet with the stats. I'm very glad i came back to watch it because this definitely needs attention.

[@PrincessEowynn]

So this wasn’t really the point of the video but y’all mentioned how Cop City was an act of gentrification which I found pretty enlightening. Since I’m white I don’t really see the effects of gentrification in the same way that a black person living in a neighborhood actively being gentrified would. Is there any way that communities can improve the spaces that they take up without it necessarily leading to the expulsion of black people that comes about from rising prices? Would something as simple as pricing or rent controls be enough to stop this effect? Obviously Cop City isn’t improving the community for the people already living in Atlanta, but it’s just what got me thinking. Any places to learn more about this would be really appreciated from anyone who happens to read this

[@Velo_Jello]

Seconding the fact that this was revelatory (as well as curiosity about community improvement without pricing the existing community out of their homes)

[@StopCopCity1312]

By the time you're begging local officials to do something, usually it's already too late. You've got to prevent them from showing up in the first place. See a really expensive vehicle? Slash their tires. Pour dirt/sugar in the gas tank. Key their car. Smash their windows. See an empty spot on any surface in your neighborhood in a high traffic area? Plaster and/or graffiti it with stickers with catchy memes/slogans or QR codes to more resources for help. Their addresses are usually public information.

[@StopCopCity1312]

The problem with working in the system is that they're already so red lined, gerrymandered, and other forms of oppression. You're on their turf and their terms. Make your own.

[@StopCopCity1312]

I'd recommend Crimethinc, UnicornRiot and It'sGoingDown News if you want to keep up.

[@Birbface]

I'm not sure how smashing windows, slashing the tires of SUVs or blowing them up opposes gentrification. It would logically invite militarised policing and therefore exodus of communities - with the poorest suffering the worst. 'Urban decay' is the reason gentrification can occur, with councils deciding land that looks run down could actually be ripe for investment and property development. If you wish to oppose this then help organise community work to clean up an area, meaning literally clean walls and signs, sidewalks, remove trash, etc., and try to bring in those large flowerbeds and boxes to make the place look attractive and welcoming. The reason lack of investment occurs and that areas looking shit just look shitter and shitter is that no one wants to live in filth, moreover, no one bothers to clean up filth when it's just going to get filthy again. So clean it, and keep cleaning it, making your efforts visible and telling people you're doing it. Then people automatically start to take better care of it. Shit graffiti and obscure socialist 'slogans' is just going to turn people off. Try another anarchist approach that doesn't always rely on violence: propaganda of the deed.