Atlanta council meeting disrupted by Cop City protesters throwing ping pong balls

On Monday, Atlanta residents opposed to the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, known as 'Cop City,' gathered at a city council meeting to protest. This event marked the one-year anniversary of their petition submission, which garnered over 100,000 signatures to request a referendum allowing residents to vote on the facility's approval. Protesters expressed their discontent by chanting and throwing ping pong balls, symbolizing the signatures collected for the referendum. During the meeting, two women displayed a sign criticizing Mayor Andre Dickens, which prompted a larger protest as attendees began throwing hundreds of ping pong balls toward the council members. The protest lasted approximately six minutes before the live video feed of the meeting was interrupted. Supporters of the $90 million training facility argue that it will improve police training and address recruitment challenges. However, opponents fear that the facility will contribute to increased police militarization, particularly in a majority-Black area. The ongoing protests have raised concerns about the facility's impact on the community and have led to increased costs for its construction. The situation has escalated in recent years, especially following the shooting of activist Manuel Esteban Paez Teran by state troopers in January 2023. A special prosecutor later determined that the use of deadly force was justified. The protests surrounding 'Cop City' have become a focal point for broader discussions about policing and community safety in Atlanta.