Kemp condemns ‘militant activists’ arrested on domestic terrorism charges in attacks against police training complex

The militants were found to have stashed explosive devices, gasoline, and road flares in makeshift treehouses where they were camped out.

The statement accused their network of a litany of crimes, including carjacking, arson, and attacks against public officials. Kemp’s condemnation of the network appears to be his first mention of the encounter.

GREEN VS. BLUE: ACTIVISTS CAMP OUT IN TREES TO PROTEST POLICE TRAINING FACILITY

“Last month, thanks to the hard work and bravery of the GBI; Atlanta Police; DeKalb D.A., Police, and Sheriff’s Office; Attorney General Carr’s Office; and other partners, several criminals illegally occupying the construction site for the planned Atlanta Police Training facility who also used violence against law enforcement were arrested and charged. Rest assured they will not be the last we will take down as this project moves forward. The only response we will give to intimidation and violence is swift and exact justice,” Kemp wrote.

“These individuals are members of a broader network of militant activists who have committed similar acts of domestic terrorism and intimidation across the country with no regard for the people or communities impacted by their crimes,” he continued.

“Make no mistake, if ANY crimes of this sort are committed in Georgia, we will bring the full force of state and local law enforcement down on those trying to bring about a radical agenda through violent means. Domestic terrorism will NOT be tolerated in our state, and we will not hesitate, we will not rest, we will not waver in ending their activities and prosecuting them to the fullest extent of the law,” he concluded.

The $90 million state-of-the-art police training center would include a burn tower to practice extinguishing fires, a large area for high-speed vehicle chases, a helicopter landing pad, a shooting range, and more. The sprawling center is being built on unincorporated forest land, enraging activists. A militant network of environmentalists and far-left activists has formed to stop the construction, camping out in treehouses and using increasingly violent tactics in an attempt to prevent the facility from being built.

“Prior to yesterday’s operation, APD and other agencies had made several arrests over the past few months for the ongoing criminal activity at the site location. Some of the criminal activities include carjacking, various crimes against persons, destruction of property, arson, and attacks against public safety officials. Law enforcement continues to address the criminal acts committed by the individuals that continue to occupy the area of the proposed training site,” the GBI wrote in a statement following the five arrests.

“Yesterday, several people threw rocks at police cars and attacked EMT’s outside the neighboring fire stations with rocks and bottles. Task force members used various tactics to arrest individuals who were occupying makeshift treehouses,” the bureau added.

The Atlanta Police Department has said it is OK to protest the facility’s construction peacefully but warned violence won’t be tolerated.

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“The Atlanta Police Department supports every citizen’s right to a peaceful and lawful protest. Atlanta is the home of civil rights protests and other social justice movements. It is in our DNA,” the department told the Washington Examiner. 

“Our role is public safety. We intervene when the law is broken,” it added. “We, in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, the Atlanta Police Foundation, stakeholders, public officials, and community supporters, will continue to move forward with the mission of constructing this state-of-the-art public safety training facility that will allow us to teach and train recruits and our tenured police officers and firefighters in an environment that is safe, aesthetically pleasing, and technically capable of moving public safety training forward.”