Early on Wednesday morning, police officers from the Atlanta Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation raided the Teardown House, a hub for a constellation of organizing activity in East Atlanta. At least a dozen officers in riot gear, wielding assault rifles, arrested three organizers from the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, a nonprofit that supports people who are arrested for protest or activism.
The three Solidarity Fund organizers arrested this week—Marlon Kautz, Adele Maclean, and Savannah Patterson—have been initially charged with the felony crimes of charity fraud and money laundering.
"This is targeting of organizers and movements by the police and the state," Kamau Franklin of Community Movement Builders said in a statement "Bail funds have been a part of organizing the Civil Rights movement and labor movement. We will continue to fight back against cop city and the political arrest of our friends and comrades."
“We’re afraid that this excessive display of force was used both to retaliate against those who have been engaged in acts of civil disobedience to protest the building of the facility and to intimidate those who support nonviolent actions like operating a community bail fund,” The Bail Project said in a statement.
In a statement issued after the arrests, Gov. Brian Kemp said the state would "track down every member of a criminal organization, from violent foot soldiers to their uncaring leaders."
"These criminals facilitated and encouraged domestic terrorism with no regard for others, watching as communities faced the destructive consequences of their actions." the Republican said. "Here in Georgia, we do not allow that to happen. "
"On its face, it appears to be laudable, it appears to be lawful, but they harbor extremist anti-government and anti-establishment views and not all of the money goes to what they say that it goes to.”
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, also a Republican, pledged to "not rest until we have held accountable every person who has funded, organized, or participated in this violence and intimidation."
So if you aren't worried about Chris Carr (incredible chud name lol) "holding you accountable": Donation Link
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Didn't realize it until seeing pictures but I'm pretty sure the folks who were arrested are also pretty heavily involved in Atlanta Food Not Bombs
Yes, and also Atlanta Copwatch, and so many other things. You couldn't find more kind, radical, committed people if you looked for years.
In a way it breaks my heart that the State pointed its repressive force at the Teardown, but it doesn't surprise me. They have always been high-profile on the local stage.