In a dramatic turn of events, a Georgia federal judge has dealt a blow to the aspirations of the Anti-Cop City Group, also known as the Cop City Vote Coalition. U.S. District Judge Mark H. Cohen announced his decision, denying their entry into a lawsuit challenging Atlanta’s residency requirements for a referendum on the controversial police training facility, ominously referred to as “Cop City.” While the lawsuit now sits before the Eleventh Circuit, Judge Cohen didn’t mince words in criticizing the actions of city officials involved in this legal tangle.
Judge’s Sharp Remarks Leave Atlanta Officials in Quandary
With a decision that sent shockwaves through the courtroom, Judge Cohen acknowledged the perplexing situation facing both the city and those opposing “Cop City.” The preliminary injunction he had granted to four non-Atlanta residents in July, which allowed them to collect signatures for a referendum on the training facility and extended the submission deadline to September 25, was abruptly stayed by the Eleventh Circuit on September 1. This left Atlanta officials and the opponents of “Cop City” in a state of bewilderment.
