Atlanta, GA
Atlanta police condemned for heavy-handed action at Cop City protest
Police actions during a mass protest called “Block Cop City” that drew people from across the US to Atlanta this week have been condemned as heavy handed after they included flash-bang grenades, tear-gas canisters, tanks and a press conference full of demonstrably false or misleading descriptions of the event.
The Guardian also spoke with a protester who was detained, repeatedly called a “terrorist”, handcuffed and threatened with arrest in a supermarket parking lot near the march – only to be released with no charges.
The actions are the latest hardline display against opposition to Cop City, a sign that Atlanta authorities are determined to combat dissent on the project.
The Block Cop City action didn’t reach its stated goal of occupying the site of the controversial, $90m police and fire department center known as “Cop City”, but did shut down work for a day at the 171-acre construction footprint in a forest south-east of Atlanta.
The event drew nearly 500 people from dozens of cities and included nonviolent direct action training and planning and a commitment to no property damage or weapons. Nonetheless, multiple jurisdictions deployed police to the project’s construction site and streets in the surrounding area and Atlanta police chief Darin Schierbaum characterized the event as a threat to public safety, citing evidence such as gas masks.
“It’s absurdly hypocritical of the police”, said Jamie Peck, an organizer who came from New York. “They’re claiming we were the violent ones, when nonviolence was in the DNA of the action from the beginning. Trying to say we’re violent when we brought protective gear is sort of Orwellian”.
The march began early Monday morning at a park several miles from the Cop City site and included between 350 and 400 marchers as well as Carnaval-sized puppets and a marching band. Dozens wore spray-painted, white jumpsuits – in homage, organizers said, to European environmental activists.
Joel Paez and Belkis Terán warmed up the crowd – parents of Manuel Paez Terán, or “Tortuguita”, who police shot and killed on 18 January, while the activist was camping in a forested public park about a mile from the construction site. Paez told the crowd he saw them all as “family”. “I pray for the safety of everyone here”, he said. “I pray for the generations fighting for a better world.”
The march then wound its way through the park and toward another park that butts up against the Cop City site. Police blocked a tunnel connecting the two parks, so marchers turned into a nearby neighborhood and, eventually, onto a four-lane road leading to the site’s entrance.
Soon after, marchers were met by a line of Dekalb county police. They had shields, tear-gas guns, a dog and a tank called “The Beast”; there were officers with automatic weapons whose uniforms read “sniper”. As soon as the first line of marchers made contact with police, several officers aimed gas canisters and flash-bang grenades at the crowd. They also fired at a group of clearly-identified members of the press who were on the shoulder of the road.
About a dozen journalists were separated from the march. When one tried to return, an officer blocked him on the public road and said, “this is an active crime scene”. Another officer later let him return to doing his job.
One protester who had come from Arizona to participate in the action had gone to a nearby supermarket with another protester. The activist, who uses they/them pronouns, didn’t want the Guardian using their name.
The activists were sitting together in a car watching a live feed of the march when police approached. “What are you doing here? Commanding the action from your car?” asked one officer. Police repeatedly accused the activist about “inciting crimes”, of being a “terrorist”. Officers asked, “Why do you come to our town to mess things up?” One said, “you don’t even know what this project is about – there’s crime in this town, and you need us”.
The officers also separated the two; the Arizonan later discovered their fellow protester had been arrested after supplying a false name and released on misdemeanor charges.
Meanwhile, officers eventually told the 39-year-old human resources professional they were free to go – until a plainclothes officer came behind them and said they were being arrested for “conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism”. Another officer then asked them if they possessed incendiary devices. They were eventually released.
The language of terrorism echoes the state of Georgia’s recent indictment and arraignment of 61 people in connection with Cop City under the state’s Rico, or racketeering law, accusing them of forming a conspiracy.
At a later press conference Schierbaum, the police chief, told the public that police had kept the city safe from dangerous people who were “prepared to do harm, prepared to do destruction”.
He displayed evidence of his claims such as tools used to plant trees by a roadside, gas masks and bolt cutters – presumably intended to cut through the fence surrounding the construction site. Ample video evidence exists of the peaceful roadside tree planting and it was police who used tear gas.
Atlanta police did not respond to the Guardian’s request for comment.
The Arizonan activist decided to get away for awhile, and drove to the (Martin Luther) King Center in Atlanta. “I just cried for awhile. I thought, ‘This isn’t your legacy. This isn’t what you dreamed of.’”
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta's Arctic air impact: Uncertainty looms over MLK weekend forecast
ATLANTA – Residents across Georgia can expect a mix of rain, cold, and the possibility of snowflakes in the coming days as winter weather patterns continue to shift.
What we know:
According to FOX 5 Storm Team Chief Meteorologist David Chandley, widespread rain is forecast for the weekend, with extreme northern areas possibly seeing snowflakes late Sunday into Monday. Significant snow accumulation is not expected.
“Yeah, this go-around into the weekend, really, we’re just going to see some rain across North Georgia,” Chandley stated. He added that next week’s forecast remains uncertain, with Arctic air potentially influencing weather conditions. “We’ve got a whole week to kind of hash that out. All the things can change.”
The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday will likely be chilly but dry for much of Georgia. “It’s going to be chilly, but it looks like dry conditions for the MLK holiday celebration,” Chandley explained.
In metro Atlanta, Tuesday could bring a slight chance of wintry precipitation as temperatures drop. “January is very active, no doubt about it,” Chandley noted.
Metro Atlanta forecast
- Tonight: Partly cloudy, low near 30°F.
- Wednesday: Sunny, high around 48°F.
- Thursday: Sunny, breezy, high near 53°F.
- Friday Night to Saturday: Rain moves in late Friday, with showers likely Saturday. Highs in the mid-50s.
- Sunday: Mostly cloudy, high near 48°F. A few snowflakes possible in extreme North Georgia late.
- MLK Day (Monday): Mostly sunny, high near 37°F. A slight chance of rain or snow.
Extreme North Georgia Mountains forecast
- Tonight: Partly cloudy, low near 20°F.
- Wednesday: Sunny, high near 42°F.
- Thursday: Sunny, breezy, high near 46°F.
- Friday Night to Saturday: Showers likely Friday night into Saturday, high near 49°F.
- Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, low near 20°F.
- MLK Day (Monday): Slight chance of snow, mostly sunny, high near 34°F.
Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., the snow should move out before noon for the swearing-in ceremony on Capitol Hill. Highs will be in the 20s and lows will be around 12 degrees under mostly cloudy skies.
Possible snow in Georgia?
What we don’t know:
While the immediate forecast is becoming clearer, there is still uncertainty surrounding next week’s weather patterns. FOX 5 Meteorologist Jonathan Stacey highlighted the potential for snow but emphasized that forecasts remain in flux. “I know many of you are thinking about some snow because you’re hearing about some snow,” Stacey said. “At this point, all we can do is just pay attention and see what’s out there. As we get closer, we’ll look for consistency.”
Key questions remain:
- Will Arctic air and other weather systems converge to create snow across Georgia?
- How might fluctuating temperatures impact the likelihood of wintry precipitation?
Snow next week?
Timeline:
Here is a look at the timeline of weather for the next week:
- Tuesday: Slight chance of wintry precipitation in metro Atlanta as temperatures drop.
- Friday Night to Saturday: Rain moves into the region.
- Sunday to Monday: Snowflakes possible in extreme North Georgia; the rest of the state remains chilly with mostly dry conditions.
- MLK Day: Chilly but dry conditions for holiday celebrations.
What’s next:
Meteorologists will continue monitoring weather models throughout the week. Residents are encouraged to stay updated via trusted local forecasts, including FOX 5, and prepare for any changes in the weather as Arctic air moves closer. “All we can do is just pay attention,” Jonathan Stacey advised, underscoring the importance of staying alert to new developments.
The Source: This article is sourced from original forecasting by the FOX 5 Storm Team.
Atlanta, GA
PREVIEW: Suns Begin Long Road Trip vs Hawks
The Phoenix Suns (19-19) embark on a five-game road trip tonight when they take on the Atlanta Hawks (19-19), looking to extend their win streak to four games and move above .500 in a crowded Western Conference.
Phoenix could be facing a very short-handed Atlanta team tonight, as the Hawks listed Trae Young (illness) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (right knee inflammation) as questionable, while Jalen Johnson (right shoulder inflammation) remains out.
For the Suns, only Jusuf Nurkic (illness) is out, while Grayson Allen (left knee soreness) is probable.
After having a game postponed due to weather conditions on Saturday, the Hawks have not played since falling to the Suns 123-115 last Thursday at Footprint Center. Meanwhile, the Suns have picked up victories over the Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets since this meeting.
With a fully healthy rotation, one big key for the Suns tonight is to continue to utilize their depth and solidify the lineups that work the best in this stretch.
Bradley Beal coming off the bench has provided a huge spark for that unit, but Phoenix’s other bench players have stepped up as of late as well.
In Sunday’s 120-113 win over Charlotte, the Suns ran a nine-man rotation and closed with a lineup that consisted of three bench players – Beal, Royce O’Neale and Oso Ighodaro alongside Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. O’Neale and Ighodaro hit some huge shots in the closing minutes to seal the game.
The only bench player that did not play in the clutch was Allen after he left the game at halftime with left knee soreness after recording 13 points before halftime.
Phoenix’s bench all of a sudden looks like one of the best in the league, and it all began in the Atlanta game when Allen and Beal combined for 48 points. O’Neale returning from a six-game absence due to an ankle injury against Charlotte strengthened the unit even more.
With a depleted Hawks roster, expect Phoenix to once again try to take advantage of its firepower coming off the bench.
One area for improvement tonight for the Suns is their paint defense and rebounding. In their last two games, the Suns have been outrebounded by a combined 25 rebounds, giving up 15 offensive rebounds to Charlotte and 21 to the Jazz Saturday.
Mark Williams feasted against Phoenix’s centers in the first half Sunday, recording a season-high 22 points and 13 rebounds in the first half alone.
However, the Suns made a lot of good defensive adjustments that worked against Williams (0 field goals in second half) and the Hornets down the stretch (won fourth quarter 27-15).
Phoenix will have to fine-tune its defense to make sure it comes out of the gates stronger, but has shown that it can adjust as needed on that side of the ball.
Right now for the Suns as they begin this road trip, it’s all about finding an identity on both sides of the ball and discovering the best methods for victory as they look to continue to build momentum.
Tonight’s game tips off shortly after 5:30 p.m. Arizona time.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta-based health app finds success in ‘Damp January’
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Throughout January, millions of Americans participate in “Dry January,” an attempt to go the whole month without drinking.
Vedant Pradeep’s research has taught him otherwise. The 28-year-old Georgia Tech alumnus is the founder and CEO of Reframe, an app that helps people reduce their drinking. His research shows that a more gradual decline, which he calls “Damp January,” achieves better long-term results.
“We started out trying to help out people with hypoglycemia,” Pradeep said.
But as many startups do, Pradeep pivoted when he noticed many of the people he was helping struggled with alcohol.
“Alcohol is a bad coping strategy, but it is a coping strategy,” Pradeep said.
Reframe, headquartered in Alpharetta, went live in 2020 and has surged to the top of health-app sales in the Apple Store. It offers voluminous options for people to help them cut back or quit drinking, including challenges, counseling, summaries, calendars, stats, and a vast community of users.
“We now have the world’s largest community of people that are trying to cut back on alcohol,” Pradeep said.
Most of all, Reframe has been successful, with over 1 million people using the app. Pradeep says internal numbers show that nearly 40% of users have stayed with it for over a year.
“It helps you understand what alcohol does to your body, how it works,” Pradeep said. “It helps you understand what your triggers are and helps you build these coping strategies.”
It’s also gained support in the medical community. Atlanta cardiologist Dr. Ali Rahimi recommends it to his patients.
“You get a lot of support in an app like that that you don’t get when you see your doctor or therapist a couple of times per year,” he said.
That’s where Reframe fits in with other programs like Alcoholics Anonymous. The app and community are constantly available in a way that’s difficult for other alcohol-reduction programs.
The need is urgent, based on the latest scientific data. The U.S. Surgeon General’s Office publicly discussed the relationship between alcohol and certain cancers earlier this month.
Pradeep has known this for a while and understands that quitting cold turkey leads to slip-ups and then give-ups.
“Alcohol isn’t actually serving you,” he said.
So, as Reframe continues to pile on users, it’s all about making progress toward one’s goal; it’s less about being dry than about becoming your best self.
“That’s the goal,” Pradeep said. “To get to a point where you no longer use alcohol as a coping strategy.”
Copyright 2025 WANF. All rights reserved.
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