104-755: Government Brian Kemp Andre Dickens non-centralized leadership Stop Cop City ( SCC ), also known as Block Cop City and Defend the Atlanta Forest ( DTF ), is a decentralized movement in Atlanta , Georgia , United States , whose goal is to stop construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center by the Atlanta Police Foundation and the City of Atlanta . The proposed location for
208-581: A preliminary injunction entered in October 2019 blocked the legislation from going into effect, and a permanent injunction entered in July 2020 permanently voided the law. This injunction was later overturned with the 2022 Supreme Court decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization . Kemp has also publicly stated his support for a "statewide ban on the destruction of embryos". The abortion ban has vague and conflicting exceptions that ostensibly protect
312-541: A 2010 explanation defending the practice to the Department of Justice , Kemp's office said the policy was "designed to assure the identity and eligibility of voters and to prevent fraudulent or erroneous registrations." The Department of Justice initially rejected the policy, but allowed it to go into effect with additional safeguards; a later lawsuit claimed "it is not apparent that the Secretary of State ever followed
416-604: A Technology Career Program for the unemployed to be able to learn new tech skills and other IT training to take advantage of the booming tech jobs market. Mayor Andre Dickens also serves on the Georgia Tech Alumni Board, the Alumnus Leadership Atlanta, Diversity Leadership Atlanta, United Way VI, and Regional Leadership Institute. Dickens is a Brother of Kappa Alpha Psi ; having pledged when he attended Georgia Tech . Dickens
520-608: A change in the law that would require the Georgia Legislature to revise statewide laws. These laws currently prohibit local governments from enacting fair housing laws that are more expansive than the state's regulations. In February 2023, Mayor Dickens struck a deal between the city's housing authority and developer Integral Group, calling for the housing authority to sell 81 acres to develop affordable housing units. In May 2022, Mayor Dickens faced criticism from housing advocates when his initial budget proposal omitted
624-456: A community-advisory committee, and in 2022 Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens said that there was "a lot of room for input." The advisory committee does not include representatives from environmental groups, but does include representatives from the police and fire departments and the Dickens administration. A vocal critic of the facility was removed from the advisory committee. Residents who support
728-639: A contribution to the "Building the Beloved Community Affordable Housing Trust Fund." Responding to the backlash, he later announced a $ 7 million addition to the proposed budget, increasing the total affordable housing investment from $ 58.7 million to about $ 65 million. A member of the Democratic party, Andre Dickens first served for the Atlanta city council in 2013. In 2017, as an incumbent he ran unopposed in
832-858: A draconian step that seems intended to chill First Amendment protected activity ". The groups that signed the letter included Amnesty International , Human Rights Watch , the National Lawyers Guild , and the Center for Constitutional Rights . In September 2023, 61 people were indicted under the Georgia RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act for involvement in the protests. In spring 2023, dozens of students and faculty from Georgia State University , Emory University , Agnes Scott College , Morehouse College , Spelman College and other Atlanta area colleges and universities petitioned their institutions to officially denounce
936-675: A landslide. In the general election , Kemp defeated Abrams in a rematch by a wider margin than in 2018; she conceded defeat on election night. Kemp was born in Athens, Georgia , the son of William L. Kemp II, into a prominent family with a history of political power. Kemp's grandfather Julian H. Cox was a member of the Georgia Legislature . Kemp went to the private Athens Academy until ninth grade. He transferred to Clarke Central High School to play football for Billy Henderson ; he graduated in 1983. He later graduated from
1040-520: A lawsuit was filed, a server at the center of the controversy was wiped, preventing officials from determining the scope of the breach. Kemp denied responsibility, instead saying researchers at Kennesaw State University , who managed the system, had acted "in accordance with standard IT procedures" in deleting the data. On September 5, 2018, an attack ad was released claiming that Kemp chose not to pursue accusations of sexual assault against therapists employed by Massage Envy during his time overseeing
1144-439: A legal bail fund . Regarding the arrests, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr pledged to “not rest until we have held accountable every person who has funded, organized, or participated in this violence and intimidation” regarding the protests. In April 2024, students at Emory University organized a protest on the university lawn against Cop City and the university's ties to Israel. A statement from protest organizers accused
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#17327799457981248-536: A multi-million dollar business in only two locations. Unfortunately due to the housing crisis Dickens was unable to keep the company alive and in 2010 he filed for Chapter Seven bankruptcy. In 2013 Andre Dickens, was elected as an at-large City Council member. From 2014 to 2021 he mainly advocated for the improvement of Atlanta's public safety, the need for affordable housing, having programs for citizens, and creating more opportunities to students in Atlanta's Public School system. One of his most important contributions to
1352-534: A near 2 year restriction on restaurants, hotels, and other venues. During his first year in office, Mayor Andre Dickens made one of Atlanta's largest-ever, single-housing investments, committing more than $ 100 million to new and updated housing. The Dickens administration continues to partner with and leverage tools such as inclusionary zoning to assist with this investment. In order to offer affordable housing alongside increasing interest rates, new developments in areas with major public interest such as Westside Park and
1456-486: A potentially devastating embarrassment. Their unsubstantiated claims came at a pivotal moment, as voters were making their final decisions in an election that had attracted intense national attention." On December 4, 2018, U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings , the incoming chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, announced that he would like to call Kemp before Congress to testify about
1560-719: A quid pro quo scheme being perpetrated through the secretary of state's office and the Kemp for governor campaign." Kemp said that he had done nothing illegal. In response to the accusations, a spokesperson for Kemp's campaign asserted that Unterman was "mentally unstable" and suggested she "seek immediate medical attention before she hurts herself or someone else". The Kemp campaign was criticized for its apparent reference to Unterman's history of depression , about which she had spoken publicly. In response, Unterman said she would not be "intimidated, blackmailed, belittled, or sexually harassed" into silence. Kemp's campaign did not apologize for
1664-562: A raid on the occupied encampment. In 2020, as part of the Black Lives Matter movement and nationwide response to the murder of George Floyd , Atlanta witnessed a months-long series of protests against police brutality. Less than three weeks after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin murdered Floyd on a public street, an Atlanta police (APD) officer shot and killed Atlanta resident Rayshard Brooks , which resulted in protests, arson, national outcry, and calls to defund
1768-516: A runoff election between Republican Brian Kemp and Democrat Stacey Abrams". Political scientist Charles S. Bullock III told The Washington Post that claims of a stolen election were "not based on fact but will continue to be articulated by Abrams since it helps mobilize her supporters", while Richard Hasen took issue with Kemp's job performance but said that he had seen "no good social science evidence that efforts to make it harder to register and vote were responsible for Kemp’s victory over Abrams in
1872-779: A single night in July 2017, half a million voters, about 8% of all registered Georgia voters, had their registrations canceled, an act The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said "may represent the largest mass disenfranchisement in US history." Kemp oversaw the removals as secretary of state, and did so eight months after declaring his candidacy for governor. By early October 2018, Kemp's office had put more than 53,000 voter registration applications on hold, with more than 75% belonging to minorities. The voters are eligible to re-register if they still live in Georgia and have not died. An investigative journalism group run by Greg Palast found that, of
1976-496: A total of 20 people facing these charges. On March 6, 2023, it was reported that 23 people who had thrown large rocks, bricks, Molotov cocktails, and fireworks at police, as well having set buildings and equipment on fire, had been charged with domestic terrorism. Only two of them were from Atlanta. One was from France, and one was from Canada. This is the first time that state law has been used in this way. Legal scholars, protest groups, and state and local governments are interested in
2080-409: A window of opportunity during which voter registration records could be changed. In response to criticisms of the announcement, Kemp said, "I'm not worried about how it looks. I'm doing my job." In a ruling on the matter, Totenberg criticized Kemp for having "delayed in grappling with the heightened critical cybersecurity issues of our era posed [by] the state's dated, vulnerable voting system" and said
2184-798: Is a deacon at the New Horizon Baptist Church in Northwest Atlanta. He has one daughter, Bailey. Dickens was born in 1974, in Atlanta. Raised by his mother Sylvia Dickens and stepfather who adopted him and his other two siblings at the age of 7. While spending time with his step-father they often bonded over taking things apart and rebuilding them which birthed Dickens' passion for engineering. He grew up in Southwest Atlanta, and attended Benjamin Elijah Mays High School before enrolling at
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#17327799457982288-523: Is footage of the aftermath; officers from other agencies were present and would have captured that video. The recovered handgun was determined to be purchased legally by Terán in September 2020. Other protesters and Terán's family dispute that Terán fired a gun. On February 9, 2023, the Atlanta police released body camera footage of the aftermath of the shooting wherein an officer is heard saying "You fucked your own officer up." This led some to believe that
2392-524: Is no feasible alternative location for the training center and that the Old Atlanta Prison Farm is "not a forest". Critics of the training facility state that the center will increase militarization of police and that destruction of the forest will exacerbate economic disparities and ecological collapse in a poor-majority Black neighborhood. On January 18, 2023, Georgia State Patrol Officers shot and killed Manuel Esteban Paez Terán during
2496-555: Is the Old Atlanta Prison Farm (OPF). A 2021 study by the Atlanta Community Press Collective—a self-described "abolitionist media" group—called the location a site of "atrocities of the past." An earlier study in 1999 did not mention historical atrocities, but did recommend that the area be preserved and placed on the National Register of Historic Places . Opponents of the project have objected to placing
2600-566: The Department of Homeland Security to guard against Russian interference . Kemp ran for governor in 2018 and faced Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams . He refused to resign as secretary of state while campaigning for governor, which stirred controversy and accusations of abuse of power from Democrats. Kemp narrowly won the general election and resigned as secretary of state shortly thereafter. Abrams accused Kemp of voter suppression , which he denied. News outlets and political science experts have found no evidence that voter suppression affected
2704-546: The Georgia Department of Agriculture in 2006 but lost the Republican primary. In 2010, Governor Sonny Perdue appointed Kemp secretary of state. He was elected to a full term as secretary in 2010 and reelected in 2014. In 2015, Kemp was criticized after a data breach of over six million voters' personal information to 12 organizations. During the 2016 election, he was the only state official to reject help from
2808-586: The Georgia Institute of Technology , where he received his degree in chemical engineering in 1998. Dickens received his Master's of Public Administration in Economic Development from Georgia State University . While enrolled at Georgia Tech, Andre Dickens began his professional career in 1994 as a part-time chemical engineer for BP-Amoco. Immediately after getting his degree, the position at BP-Amoco became full-time. In 1999, Dickens
2912-740: The University of Georgia , where he majored in agriculture . Kemp was a home builder and developer before entering politics. He served as a Georgia State Senator from 2003 to 2007 after defeating the Democratic incumbent Doug Haines . In 2006, Kemp ran for Agriculture Commissioner of Georgia . He finished second in the primary, but lost the runoff to Gary Black . Kemp declared his candidacy for State Senate District 47 when incumbent Ralph Hudgens planned to run for Congress in Georgia's 10th congressional district , but Hudgens instead ran for reelection, changing Kemp's plans. In early 2010, Kemp
3016-485: The 2016 election, Kemp denounced the Obama administration 's efforts to strengthen election system security, including improving access to federal cybersecurity assistance, calling the efforts an assault on states' rights . After narrowly winning the 2018 gubernatorial election , Kemp resigned as secretary of state in anticipation of becoming governor. As evidence mounted that Russian hackers were attempting to disrupt
3120-482: The 2016 elections, President Obama directed Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to work with states to secure their voting systems as "critical infrastructure." Kemp was the only state election official to decline the help from Jeh Johnson . In a 2017 interview, he denounced the effort as an assault on states' rights, saying, "I think it was a politically calculated move by the previous administration" and "I don't necessarily believe" Russia had attempted to disrupt
3224-660: The 83rd governor of Georgia . A member of the Republican Party , Kemp served as the state's 27th Secretary of State from 2010 to 2018, and as a member of the Georgia State Senate from 2003 to 2007. Kemp is a graduate of the University of Georgia . Before entering politics, he operated several businesses in agriculture, financial services, and real estate. In 2002, he was elected to the Georgia State Senate. Kemp ran for commissioner of
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3328-551: The Affordable Care Act, as well as efforts to hinder the functioning of the Affordable Care Act for Georgia residents. Kemp and Republicans in the Georgia legislature have opposed full Medicaid expansion. Kemp has sought to introduce work requirements for Medicaid recipients. After Johnny Isakson announced that he would resign from the U.S. Senate on December 31, 2019, Kemp appointed businesswoman Kelly Loeffler to complete Isakson's term on December 4. Loeffler
3432-519: The BeltLine will take precedence. Mayor Dickens' early accomplishments in office include the city's first-ever investment in early childhood education and the creation of a Nightlife Division to combat establishments with a history of violent crime. During Mayor Dickens' term, over $ 13 million in funding has been set aside to combat homelessness, with the help of the LIFT 2.0 homeless response plan. By
3536-506: The Georgia Board of Massage Therapy because of donations made by franchisee owners to Kemp's campaign. The offenders were able to renew their Board licenses after the accusations. Republican State Senator Renee Unterman said that there "appears to be a direct connection between campaign support from Massage Envy franchisees in exchange for non-action and suppression" and asked U.S. Attorney B.J. Pak to investigate "what seems to be
3640-422: The Georgia gubernatorial race". A USA Today fact check noted that the actions Kemp's office took during the election "can be explained as routine under state and federal law". Hasen told PolitiFact , "I have seen no good evidence that the suppressive effects of strict voting and registration laws affected the outcome of the governor’s races in Georgia and Florida" and suggested Democrats "cool it" with claims
3744-525: The House Oversight and Reform Committee for alleged voter suppression in the 2018 elections. Cummings oversaw the investigation. Kemp was given until March 20, 2019, to comply with document requests or face a subpoena . The primary elections were held on May 22, 2018, and a primary runoff was held on July 24, 2018, between Republican candidates Kemp and Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle ; Kemp prevailed. Incumbent Republican governor Nathan Deal
3848-534: The Microsoft applications involved." In October 2015, the Georgia Secretary of State's office, under Kemp's leadership, illegally disclosed the personal information (including Social Security numbers and dates of birth) of 6.2 million registered Georgia voters. This data breach occurred when the office sent out a CD with this information to 12 organizations that purchase monthly voter lists from
3952-517: The OPF–have fewer and smaller parks. The APF training facility is opposed by a coalition of environmental groups, neighborhood associations, local schools, and racial justice groups. Plans were approved by the city in September 2021 after 17 hours of public comment from over 1,100 residents, 70% of whom opposed the project. Residents have expressed concern that the approval process was secretive with limited input from affected communities. The city appointed
4056-515: The Russian hackers targeted county websites in Georgia. In December 2016, Kemp accused the Department of Homeland Security of attempting to hack his office's computer network, including the voter registration database, implying that it was retribution for his previous refusal to work with DHS. A DHS inspector general investigation found there was no hacking, but rather it was "the result of normal and automatic computer message exchanges generated by
4160-488: The Secretary of State and is already being adopted by several counties and is being seriously considered and being worked on by many more." Officials claim the locations were closed as a cost-saving measure. Georgia has removed registered voters from voter rolls for not voting in consecutive elections more aggressively than any other state. Between 2012 and 2018, Kemp's office canceled over 1.4 million voters' registrations, with nearly 700,000 cancellations in 2017 alone. On
4264-469: The ad as a "lighthearted portrayal of a protective, gun-wielding Southern father vetting a potential suitor", and Kemp dismissed the criticism, telling critics, "Get over it." In the November 7 general election, Kemp declared victory over Abrams. The next morning, he resigned as Secretary of State. On November 16, every county certified their votes with Kemp leading by roughly 55,000 votes. Shortly after
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4368-735: The applicants being African American , and he purged 1.4 million inactive voters from voter rolls during his tenure, including 668,000 in 2017. Kemp denied engaging in voter suppression, stating that he was following federal and state law to update voter rolls with accurate information. As a result of the controversies surrounding the 2018 Georgia midterms , critics have called Kemp's gubernatorial victory illegitimate. Glenn Kessler of The Washington Post noted such claims are "an article of faith among Democrats". Political scientists and news outlets have rejected these claims; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote, "no evidence emerged of systematic malfeasance – or of enough tainted votes to force
4472-600: The approximately 534,000 Georgians whose voter registrations were purged between 2016 and 2017, more than 334,000 still lived where they were registered. The voters were given no notice that they had been purged. Palast sued Kemp, claiming over 300,000 voters were purged illegally. Kemp's office denied any wrongdoing, saying that by "regularly updating our rolls, we prevent fraud and ensure that all votes are cast by eligible Georgia voters." After Totenberg's ruling thousands of voting machines were sequestered by local election officials on Election Day in 2018, an action critics said
4576-751: The area. Dozens of local community groups and regional organizations have opposed the project. Two environmental organizations, the South River Forest Coalition and the South River Watershed Alliance, have filed a lawsuit against the film studio development. Beginning in late 2021, the contested forest was occupied by self-described forest defenders who barricaded the area and constructed tree-sits to prevent trees from being cut. Forest defenders had several conflicts with police, resulting in some arrests. They have also destroyed equipment being used by developers in
4680-613: The area; when reporters asked police whether the explosive devices were fireworks or something more dangerous, the police declined to answer. On January 18, 2023, Georgia State Troopers and other agencies launched another raid. During the raid a trooper was shot in the leg, and a protester, Manuel Terán , known also as "Tortuguita", was shot and killed by police. Police stated that Terán fired on them without warning. Multiple groups, including other protestors, two independent journalists who had previously interviewed Terán, and Terán's family, have questioned whether Terán fired first, pointing to
4784-583: The certification, Abrams suspended her campaign; she accepted Kemp as the legal winner of the election while refusing to say that the election was legitimate. Abrams has since claimed numerous instances of election activity that allegedly unfairly affected the results. Following the election, Abrams and her organization Fair Fight filed several lawsuits challenging the constitutionality and Voting Rights Act compliance of Georgia's voting laws, some of which are still pending. Kemp prevailed by 54,723 votes, defeating Abrams 50.2–48.8%. The 2018 gubernatorial election
4888-651: The city while on city council was his sponsorship of legislation that made the minimum wage for city employees fifteen dollars an hour. In addition to changing the minimum wage he created the Department of Transportation, the BeltLine Inclusionary Zoning which increased affordable housing in the area, and the Atlanta Youth Commission. On February 25, 2022, Dickens lifted the indoor COVID-19 mask mandate in Atlanta, ending
4992-585: The company's involvement in financing the facility's construction. A protest was held at the facility construction site on March 5, 2023. Several demonstrators threw rocks and firebombs, resulting in the destruction of several pieces of construction equipment. Police subsequently raided the nearby South River Music Festival and detained 35 people, of which 12 were released and the remaining 23 were charged with domestic terrorism. Festival attendees have accused police of selectively charging protestors from out of state, while releasing Georgia residents, in order to further
5096-473: The construction of the training facility have said that they want a properly trained police force and hope the project would improve the quality of the Atlanta police force to make their communities safer. DTF supporters have led divestment movements against APF corporate sponsors funding the APF, and four "week of action" campaigns in 2021–22 featured live music, supply drives, skill shares, and history lessons about
5200-506: The contested 2018 election; the new law provides that polling places cannot be changed 60 days before an election, that county election officials cannot reject absentee ballots because of mismatched signatures, and that a voter whose voter registration application information does not match other government databases will not be removed from the voter rolls for this reason. In March 2021, Kemp signed SB 202 , which expanded early in-person voting, enacted ID requirements for absentee voting, gave
5304-471: The election was stolen. Kemp introduced a controversial "exact match" policy during his first year as secretary of state in 2010. Under the system, eligible Georgians were dropped from voter rolls for an errant hyphen or if "a stray letter or a typographical error on someone's voter registration card didn't match the records of the state's driver's license bureau or the Social Security office." In
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#17327799457985408-420: The election. Kemp opposes automatic voter registration. In a leaked 2018 recording, he said that attempts to register all eligible voters "continues to concern us, especially if everybody uses and exercises their right to vote." In a separate 2018 recording made by a progressive group he said, "Democrats are working hard ... registering all these minority voters that are out there and others that are sitting on
5512-628: The elections. In August 2016, amid Russian attempts to disrupt the 2016 elections, Kemp said that an intrusion by Russian hackers into voting systems was "not probable at all, the way our systems are set up" and accused federal officials of exaggerating the threat of Russian interference . Georgia was one of 14 states that used electronic voting machines that produced no paper record, which election integrity experts say left elections vulnerable to tampering and technical problems. The 2018 indictment against Russian hackers (as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller 's probe into 2016 interference) said that
5616-513: The end of 2024, the City hopes to achieve its goal of providing 1,500 housing placements for impoverished families by collaborating with local government, corporations, nonprofits, and community members. In October 2022, Mayor Andre Dickens appointed Darin Schierbaum as Atlanta's 26th Chief of Atlanta Police Department Dickens condemned the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel , saying Israel "has
5720-572: The end of April, Kemp lifted the stay-at-home order over the opposition of mayors and against the advice of public health experts and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Andre Dickens Andre Dickens (born 1974) is an American politician and nonprofit executive who is the 61st and current mayor of Atlanta , Georgia . He was a member of the Atlanta City Council and defeated council president Felicia Moore in
5824-571: The facility and burned an Atlanta Police Department vehicle. Six arrests were made. Responding to condemnation of these acts, Stop Cop City issued a statement asserting that "Destruction of material is fundamentally different from violence. All reported acts appear to be explicitly targeted against the financial backers". Vigils and protests were also held in other cities, such as Bridgeport , Minneapolis , Nashville , Philadelphia , and Tucson , from January 20 to 22, 2023. Some demonstrators spray painted graffiti on Bank of America buildings to protest
5928-517: The facility is the Old Atlanta Prison Farm , and opponents of the facility are concerned about the growth of policing in the city—which has witnessed several protests against police violence following the 2020 murder of George Floyd and the killing of Rayshard Brooks , both by police officers. Proponents of the training facility say that the project is necessary to improve police morale and to fight crime. They have said that there
6032-399: The fairness of his actions during the 2018 elections. "I want to be able to bring people in, like the new governor-to-be of Georgia, to explain ... to us why is it fair for wanting to be secretary of state and be running [for governor]," Cummings said. On March 6, 2019, it was revealed that both Kemp and his successor as secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger , were under investigation by
6136-477: The forest, vandalized property belonging to corporations connected with the APF and Blackhall studios, and committed arson. In May 2022 the corporate offices of Brasfield & Gorrie in Birmingham, Alabama were vandalized, and the message "Drop Cop City Or Else" was spray-painted on the building. There is wide variation in the political stance and approach of DTF forest defenders, and several sources describe
6240-475: The general election for the At-Large Post 3 seat for city council. After two terms on city council, Andre ran for mayor of Atlanta. Throughout his campaign he captured numerous endorsements ranging from state senators to local influential leaders in the community. Dickens captured 23% of the vote in the general election to edge Kasim Reed for the second spot in the runoff race. Although Dickens did not win
6344-468: The general election. Abrams was once again the Democratic nominee. This was Georgia's first gubernatorial rematch since 1950 . In the general election, Kemp won reelection to a second term, defeating Abrams by 7.5%. Abrams conceded on election night. He was sworn in for a second term on January 12, 2023. Kemp was inaugurated as governor in a public ceremony in Atlanta on January 14, 2019. He
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#17327799457986448-466: The injured officer had not been shot by Terán, but by friendly fire from another officer. In March, Terán's family released the results of an independent autopsy revealing that Terán was shot fourteen times while sitting cross-legged on the ground with their hands raised in the air. On January 21, 2023, protesters marched from Underground Atlanta down Peachtree Street . At the intersection with Ellis St, some protesters damaged institutions who support
6552-508: The lack of body camera footage of the shooting and calling for an independent investigation. GBI conducted a forensic ballistic analysis which determined that the projectile recovered from the officer's wound matched the handgun found in Terán's possession. The GBI said that there is no body camera footage of the shooting because officers near the incident did not have cameras. Georgia State Patrol officers do not wear body-cameras. However, there
6656-503: The law. In September 2024, Georgia prosecutors dropped all fifteen charges of money laundering against three Atlanta bail fund organizers. The three individuals were indicted alongside 58 others after helping to organize the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, a provider of bail money for protestors taken into custody. Brian Kemp Brian Porter Kemp (born November 2, 1963) is an American politician serving since 2019 as
6760-432: The legislature power to overrule or replace local election officials, and banned anyone other than election workers from providing food or water to voters waiting in line. In May 2024, Kemp signed three election bills into law. Kemp visited Swainsboro in September 2019 to announce the creation of a rural "strike team" focusing on economic development in rural areas of the state. Kemp has supported efforts to overturn
6864-470: The life of the mother. According to Kemp, the law keeps women "safe, healthy and informed". In practice, the exceptions are so vague and contradictory that physicians are reluctant to provide abortions even when the mother's life is at imminent risk. By 2024, at least two women had died in Georgia after they were unable to access legal abortions and timely medical care. In April 2019, Kemp signed legislation into law addressing some criticisms that arose from
6968-473: The movement as leaderless and autonomous, with any participant able to act as they wish. Prison abolition is a strongly represented political philosophy among opponents. On December 13, 2022, a task force of multiple police agencies conducted a joint raid at the training facility site. Five people were arrested and charged with domestic terrorism . The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) stated that road flares , gasoline, and explosive devices were found in
7072-419: The narrative that "outside agitators" coordinated and controlled the protests. The arrest warrant for the festival attendees stated that domestic terrorism charges were brought against those based on probable cause, such as having had mud on their feet, and that those with legal aid phone numbers written on their bodies were considered suspicious. According to The Intercept , there is no information contained in
7176-577: The nine county polling locations in majority-minority Randolph County be closed ahead of the 2018 midterm election for failure to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act . After the American Civil Liberties Union challenged the plan, the locations were allowed to remain open. Kemp denied knowledge of the plan, but a slide from a presentation given by the consultant read, "Consolidation has come highly recommended by
7280-436: The office. The office was not aware of the breach until the next month, and did not publicly acknowledge it until The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the class action lawsuit against the office that resulted. Within a month of the breach becoming publicly known, it had cost taxpayers $ 1.2 million in credit monitoring services for those whose data had been compromised, and $ 395,000 for an audit into Kemp's handling of
7384-491: The party. The OIG has referred its findings to the City of Atlanta Ethics Office for review of potential violations of the city's Ethics Code. The Office of Mayor Dickens responded to the OIG report by saying they are committed to compliance with rules and regulations and would ensure to follow proper procedures for the 2023 Senior Ball. Dickens also said he intended to reimburse the city for hotel room costs for himself and his family,
7488-433: The police . Criticism of police and associated unrest has reduced police morale. Authorities claim that the city has struggled with rising crime, citing 149 homicides in 2021: the most in a single year since the 1990s. However, the city's crime compilation data shows a drop in overall crime rates and a mixed trend in homicides over the period from 2009 to the present. Advocates for the proposed training facility have said that
7592-521: The police facility on the site of historic human rights violations. Environmental justice advocates and organizations have proposed that the OPF should remain a centerpiece in the 3,500-acre (14 km) urban green space called the South River Forest ., citing Atlanta's "massive disparities" in green space: areas with higher percentages of African-American residents–including the area surrounding
7696-582: The police killing of anti-"Cop City" activist Manuel "Tortuguita" Terán on January 18, 2023. The groups expressed strong disapproval of Dickens' refusal to condemn the killing and criticized his alignment with law enforcement, particularly in the context of Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp deploying the National Guard to quell protests, escalating tensions and threats against demonstrators. Dickens stated protests as unpeaceful while non Georgia residents were arrested on domestic terrorism for traveling into
7800-524: The practice's past criticism by Georgia Democrats. As of September 2023 activists had turned in more than 116,000 signatures in an effort to get a referendum on the ballot regarding the future of the planned training facility. In 2022, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) determined nearly $ 121,000 used for Dickens Senior Citizen Ball celebrating Atlanta's residents 65 and older, did not follow procurement guidelines, ultimately using taxpayers dollars to fund
7904-443: The precedents that this will set for handling similar cases in the future. Supporters of this approach say that it will deter criminal behavior, while critics say that it is overreach and could stifle legitimate protest. In March 2023, several human rights groups co-signed a letter which said that "application of the domestic terrorism statute" against 19 of the 35 arrested March 2023 protestors "is an escalatory intimidation tactic and
8008-484: The project is an attempt to address these problems. The $ 90 million proposed training center would include a shooting range and a mock village that has led the project to be nicknamed "Cop City." The city is expected to pay one-third of the cost, with the Atlanta Police Foundation (APF) paying the rest. Plans for the 85-acre (34 ha) facility were announced in 2017 . According to the APF,
8112-416: The project provides "the necessary facilities required to effectively train 21st-century law enforcement agencies responsible for public safety in a major urban city." Cox Enterprises is a corporate investor in the training facility and owns the city's major daily newspaper, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution , which has published multiple editorials in favor of the project. The facility's proposed location
8216-615: The project. The protest ultimately came to an end when Emory Police arrived on the Quad and asked students to leave the Quad, informing them that those who remained would face arrest. As of December 31, 2023, there has been no official denouncement of the training center from any Atlanta area college or university . In 2023, Christopher M. Carr , the Georgia Attorney General , has defended domestic terrorism charges that have been brought against protestors allegedly breaking
8320-517: The registration. In a 2018 ruling against Kemp, District Judge Eleanor L. Ross said the system places a "severe burden" on voters. After changes to the Voting Rights Act in 2012 gave states with a history of voter suppression more autonomy, Kemp's office oversaw the closing of 214 polling locations, 8% of the total in Georgia. The closings disproportionately affected African-American communities. A consultant recommended that seven of
8424-422: The remarks. Kemp was accused by Democrats of voter suppression during the 2018 gubernatorial election. Political scientists Michael Bernhard and Daniel O'Neill described Kemp's actions as the worst case of voter suppression in that election year. The allegations arose from Kemp's actions as secretary of state: a few weeks before the election, he put 53,000 voter registration applications on hold, with 70% of
8528-655: The report said. In relation to Atlanta's housing policy, critics have raised concerns about the initial plans for the Civic Center, citing them as 'far too little deeply affordable housing.' This refers to homes priced for households earning less than half of the area median income. Furthermore, housing advocates have expressed the need for additional anti-discrimination safeguards in the new resolution, particularly regarding renters using Section 8 vouchers, to prevent landlords from refusing to rent to them. In response to these issues, Mayor Dickens faced criticism for advocating
8632-470: The result of the election. In his first term as governor, Kemp opposed face mask mandates and stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic , and prohibited localities from implementing stricter public health measures than the state as a whole. After the 2020 presidential election in Georgia , he faced criticism from President Donald Trump for following the state law that required him to certify
8736-508: The results, despite Trump's repeated false claims of fraud in the election. In 2021, Kemp signed into law the Election Integrity Act of 2021 , which expanded early in-person voting and increased the state government's control over local election officials. In his 2022 reelection campaign, Kemp was challenged by former U.S. Senator David Perdue in the Republican primary. Although Trump endorsed Perdue, Kemp defeated him in
8840-406: The right to defend itself." Dickens has supported the city's funding the construction of a controversial police and fire department training center, dubbed " Cop City " by environmentalists and community activists. Amid controversy, more than 1,300 climate, justice, and community groups urged the resignation of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens due to his perceived support for law enforcement following
8944-599: The safeguards." The process was halted after a lawsuit in 2016, but the state legislature passed a modified form of the policy in 2017 and the process began again. Critics consider these types of "exact match" laws a form of voter suppression designed to disproportionately target minorities, and African-American, Asian, and Latino voters accounted for 76.3% of the registrations dropped from voter rolls between July 2015 and July 2017. Critics say that minority names are more likely to contain hyphens and less common spellings that lead to clerical mistakes, resulting in rejection of
9048-481: The scheduled election and the end of his term. On April 1, 2020, Kemp announced a statewide stay-at-home order to combat the COVID-19 pandemic . He was among the last governors to issue a stay-at-home order, as a national emergency was declared three weeks earlier, on March 13. As he issued the order, Kemp said he had become aware the coronavirus could be spread by asymptomatic people only that day, despite warnings from health officials made months earlier. At
9152-550: The second round of Atlanta's 2021 mayoral election . He is the chief development officer at TechBridge, a nonprofit technology organization. He served as the chairperson of the transportation committee and chaired on the Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee. Mayor Andre Dickens was the chief development officer for Tech Bridge; this non-profit offers affordable technology and business expertise to other nonprofits in underserved areas. In 2018, Dickens co-founded
9256-452: The sidelines. If they can do that, they can win these elections in November." On November 4, 2018, 48 hours before his gubernatorial election, the secretary of state's office published the details of a zero day flaw in the state registration website, accusing Democrats of attempted hacking for investigating the problem but providing no evidence. Critics have said the announcement was further evidence of voter suppression and gave hackers
9360-468: The state with explosives as a means to protest the construction site of a new public safety training center — dubbed “Cop City.” In September 2023, Dickens expressed a commitment to prioritize residents' voices in the citywide vote on a $ 90 million police training facility. However, his administration faced criticism for not moving forward with the signature verification process, prompting concerns raised by Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., particularly regarding
9464-459: The system "poses a concrete risk of alteration of ballot counts." In December 2018, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution found that Kemp made the hacking allegations without any evidence. The Journal-Constitution wrote that Kemp might have made the unsubstantiated accusations against Democrats as a ploy and diversion to help him win the election; the "examination suggests Kemp and his aides used his elected office to protect his political campaign from
9568-542: The training center. On April 25, 2023, Emory University students gathered on the Atlanta Campus quad and pitched tents as an act of protest to urge university leadership to denounce the building of the training center. Students were also asking that Emory University President Greg Fenves step down from his role as a member of the Atlanta Committee for Progress (ACP), which plays a role in the building of
9672-419: The unauthorized data disclosure. Kemp drew criticism again in 2017 when it was revealed that a flaw in the state voting system exposed the personal information of over six million Georgia voters, as well as passwords used by county election officials to access voter files, to researchers at Kennesaw State University . The security flaw was fixed six months after it was reported to election authorities. After
9776-447: The university of being “complicit in genocide and police militarization” and called for "total institutional divestment from Israeli apartheid and Cop City at all Atlanta colleges and universities." The protests were peaceful until Georgia State Patrol , Atlanta Police and University Police forcefully dispersed the protests. Law enforcement used tear gas, rubber bullets, and tasers during the crackdown. 28 people were arrested, including
9880-538: The university's philosophy department chair Noëlle McAfee . In September 2022, the APF reported that it projected opening the first phase of the facility in late 2023. DTF estimated that it had delayed the project by at least a month and a half. Following the arrests in December when protestors were charged with domestic terrorism, additional protestors arrested in January were also charged with terrorism resulting in
9984-555: The warrants that directly connects any of the defendants to illegal actions. Atlanta police chief Darin Schierbaum refused to comment when confronted by journalists about this allegation. In May 2023, three activists were arrested and charged with felony intimidation of a police officer and misdemeanor stalking, with penalties up to 20 years in prison, for posting fliers and identifying the officer that shot Manuel Terán. That same month, three more activists were arrested and charged with charity fraud and money laundering for organizing
10088-504: Was appointed Georgia Secretary of State by then-Governor Sonny Perdue . Kemp won the 2010 election for a full term as secretary of state with 56.4% of the vote, to 39.4% for Democratic nominee Georganna Sinkfield. Four years later, Kemp was reelected. Kemp rejects the conclusion by the United States Intelligence Community that Russia interfered in the 2016 election . Amid Russian interference in
10192-405: Was designed to increase wait times at polling locations. The sequestration of machines disproportionately affected counties that favored Kemp's opponent and caused voters in some locations to have to wait in line for hours in inclement weather. Other locations suffered delays because machines had been delivered without power cords. Kemp himself experienced technical problems attempting to vote in
10296-420: Was employed at DSM Engineering and Plastics where he was a sales engineer. As a sales engineer, his contribution to the company were recognized as he was named the first Black salesman of the year. After his time spent as a sales engineer at twenty-eight years old Dickens alongside his older sister co-founded City-Living Home Furnishing. The furnishing company was around for nine years from 2002 to 2011 and became
10400-542: Was for "rounding up criminal illegals". The lack of proper gun safety in handling the shotgun in the "Jake" ad attracted criticism from the National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence, which said the ad "delivers a message perpetuating domestic violence and misogyny while modeling egregiously unsafe behavior", and prompted criticism that the ad depicted irresponsible handling of guns. Kemp's supporters, by contrast, viewed
10504-403: Was inaugurated for his second term on January 9, 2023. In May 2019, Kemp signed into law a highly controversial bill that would prohibit abortions after a heartbeat can be detected in a fetus, which is usually when a woman is six weeks pregnant; the legislation was one of the country's strictest anti-abortion laws. The legislation was blocked by federal courts, which ruled it unconstitutional:
10608-581: Was sworn into office on January 6, 2020, but lost the seat to Democrat Raphael Warnock in the special election held for it . Kemp appointed Carla Wong McMillian to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court of Georgia caused by the retirement of Robert Benham . Despite a regular election to the Supreme Court of Georgia being scheduled for November 2020, Kemp canceled the election when Judge Keith R. Blackwell announced he would retire between
10712-421: Was term-limited and thus could not seek a third consecutive term. Stacey Abrams won the Democratic primary with over 75% of the vote, allowing her to avoid a runoff. During the general election campaign, Kemp provoked controversy with multiple ads, including one in which he posed with rifles and a shotgun that he jokingly pointed at a teenager who "wanted to date his daughter", and one in which he said his truck
10816-442: Was the closest governor's race in Georgia since 1966 . During the primary election, Kemp was endorsed by former Vice President Mike Pence . He faced a primary challenge from former U.S. Senator David Perdue , who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump after Kemp refused to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia . Kemp defeated Perdue in the primary, 73.7% to 21.8%. Trump endorsed Kemp in
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