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September 12, 2023

Atlanta Officials Refuse to Process 116,000 Signatures for Public Referendum on Cop City
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In Georgia, Atlanta city officials are facing backlash after they
refused to begin counting and verifying over 116,000 signatures
submitted by activists Monday in support of a public referendum that
could block the construction of Cop City, a massive $90 million police
training center that would be the largest in the United States. The
effort now appears to be in legal limbo after an appellate court
suspended a previous order by another judge that had granted activists
more time to turn in the petitions. The original deadline to get the
measure on the ballot was August 21. Atlanta officials said they won't
verify signature forms until the appellate court rules on whether the
deadline extension was lawful. This is the latest setback for the Stop
Cop City movement; it comes after 61 protesters were indicted on
racketeering charges.


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