Three Charged With Fraud Linked To ‘Cop City’ Protests

On Wednesday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) arrested three individuals tied to the protests at the proposed Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, colloquially labeled “Cop City.” The three are being held on charges of money laundering and charity fraud, stirring renewed concerns about the financial underpinnings of the demonstrations.

The arrested individuals, 39-year-old Marlon Scott Kautz, 30-year-old Savannah D. Patterson and 42-year-old Adele Maclean, are affiliated with the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, a bail fund for arrested protesters. They are also officers of the Network for Strong Communities (NSC), a nonprofit established in 2020. Upon executing a search warrant at a property associated with Kautz and Maclean, authorities claimed to uncover evidence implicating the trio in financial crimes.

The GBI has stated that these charges stem from their ongoing investigation into “individuals responsible for numerous criminal acts” at the proposed site of the training center and other metro Atlanta locations. The arrests represent law enforcement’s continuing efforts to quell
violent protests that critics argue have escalated into domestic violence by left-wing activists.

The Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, scheduled for completion in 2024, has been the epicenter of frequent, heated protests. Critics argue the facility would contribute to the militarization of police forces and impact the environment adversely, given the site’s size.
Notably, the proposed site has bipartisan support at state and local levels, transcending racial lines.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) praised law enforcement for the arrests, emphasizing the severity of these charges. “These criminals facilitated and encouraged domestic terrorism with no regard for others, watching as communities faced the destructive consequences of their actions,” Kemp commented, attributing the violence to “mostly out-of-state activists.”

While the protest organizers argue that these arrests signify an attack on the right to protest, the law enforcement narrative frames these actions as necessary for maintaining public safety and order. “We will not rest until we have held accountable every person who has funded, organized, or participated in this violence and intimidation,” remarked Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr.

Following the arrests, the protest organizers have announced their intentions to continue their demonstrations. Their statement suggests a belief that their efforts are not criminal but rather an exercise of their constitutionally protected rights.

It seems clear that the Atlanta authorities are firmly committed to upholding the law and that those who fund or facilitate illegal activities face justice. Despite the controversy surrounding the “Cop City” project, the law enforcement’s unyielding stance offers a glimmer of hope for Atlanta’s residents who aspire to a safer and more secure city.