[CW: Police Brutality] On January 18, 2023, in unceded Mvskoke Creek land, multiple law enforcement agencies raided protests in Atlanta’s Weelaunee Forest killing 26-year-old forest defender Manuel “Tortuguita” Esteban Paez Teran, who had been protesting “Cop City” a proposed $90M Atlanta police training facility. Swipe to read MEJC’s statement. #StopCopCity
MEJC condemns the murder of Forest Defender Manuel “Tortuguita” Paez Teran at the hands of the United States police. Environmental racism, the climate crisis, and police brutality are all inextricably tied. Black, Brown, Indigenous and frontline communities protecting the land and water are continually harassed and assaulted by law enforcement, and accused of outrageous charges like “domestic terrorism” despite remaining non-violent. Tortuguita’s death signals a dangerous precedent: that it is acceptable for police to murder land defenders and other activists. MEJC stands in solidarity with the Defend the Atlanta Forest Movement, and mourns the death of Tortuguita. We unequivocally condemn police brutality, and ask that all other land defenders are freed and their charges dropped. Weelaunee Forever!
Follow @defendatlantaforest and @stopcopcity. Sign the solidarity letter: 🔗 defendtheatlantaforest.org/solidarity and donate to Tortuguita's family: 🔗 www.gofundme.com/f/for-family-of-manuel-tortuguita-paez-teran.