Statement on the killing of forest protestor in Atlanta

On January 18, 2023, a forest protector and climate activist was shot and killed by law enforcement officers in Atlanta, GA.

In response to activists opposed to the destruction of forest land in order to build a police facility, dozens of heavily armed Atlanta Police, DeKalb Police, and Georgia State police confronted protestors in the latest instance of a continued pattern of escalated aggression.

Peaceful protest and civil disobedience are fundamental to forcing positive and necessary social change in our society. From civil rights protests led by Dr. Martin Luther KIng Jr. to the Indigenous led fights against disastrous pipelines, peaceful disruption is often the only path to stop legal yet devastating practices and policies.

We remain in solidarity with all those working toward a just, safe and sustainable future.