Do you know what to do if the police try to harass, question, detain, or search you? The Know Your Rights covers your basic constitutional rights in police encounters. Live role playing gives you the practice you need so can assert your rights effectively in real life.
Community Movement Builders is starting a copwatch and community safety patrol focused on neighborhoods in SW Atlanta. CMB is a Black organization focused on creating sustainable self-determining communities, with roots in the Pittsburgh neighborhood.
Police shut down a popular neighborhood gathering in Edgewood, calling it an "unlawful gathering". Community members say the targeting of their peaceful barbecue is police harassment, and they blame racial profiling and gentrification in the neighborhood.
Police stopped and detained two black men who were walking on Mayson Ave. Both were put in handcuffs, searched, and held in squad cars. Officers gave no explanation for the targeting. One officer threatened to ticket the Copwatch cameraman for crossing the street. After almost an hour, both men were released. They were not charged or accused of any wrongdoing.
On Saturday, April 21st 2018, anti-racist and anti-fascist activists protested a hate rally in Newnan, GA.
Our Copwatch teams directly observed the protest, and what we documented is far different from the story the police have told.
- Police claim that activists were arrested for wearing masks, but we have video showing several of those charged with "wearing a mask" were completely unmasked.
- Police claim that activists were blocking the street, but our documentation shows activists repeatedly pulled off the sidewalk into the street and then arrested.
Following the murder of Scout Schultz by Georgia Tech Police, Atlanta universities have been cracking down on protesters and dissent on campus. Several people are facing aggressive prosecution for participating in protests, and students are being kicked out of school based only on the claims of the police.
APD officers are supposed to wear nametags which clearly identify them. But often they don’t, especially when wearing non-standard uniforms. If police won’t identify themselves, how can we hold them accountable?
If you have video or pictures of APD officers without visible nametags, we want to see it. Please get in touch!
"Lil Joe" was driving a car that he and his friends had rented for a vacation trip. Police reportedly pulled him over and claimed that he had an outstanding warrant before they had even identified him.
Witnesses saw Lil Joe pulled violently from the car and slammed face down on the ground. Bystanders objected to the treatment and demanded officers identify themselves, but some police were wearing face masks and most officers refused to identify themselves.
November 5th, 2015 6:15pm
Atlanta police pulled over Jeremy Hogens. When he pulled into the driveway at 75 Mayson Ave NE, officers ran up to the car and smashed out the driver's side window, shouting "Show me your fucking hands!". Police hit Hogens in the head with a metal baton and held him face down on the glass-covered pavement.
To justify the attack, police claimed that Hogens had tried to crush officers against a fence with his car, and charged him with aggravated assault on a police officer. Hogens faced a minimum of 5 years prison time.
Caroline Croland was arrested on June 1st, 2014 while volunteering with Atlanta Food Not Bombs, a group which serves food to homeless people. Her supposed crime was questioning why the cops were harassing Food Not Bombs.
APD Officer S. Camille was harrassing and detaining another volunteer, and seemed to be targetting the group. Angered by this, Caroline shouted at the officer "Why can't we share a meal every sunday without state harassment? Why? Answer me!"