Nearly five dozen individuals who have been protesting against a planned police and firefighter training facility near Atlanta appeared in court on Monday to face racketeering charges. These charges were based on allegations that the protesters possessed fire accelerant and threw Molotov cocktails at police officers. The protests against the proposed training center, nicknamed “Cop City” by opponents, have been ongoing for over two years.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr obtained a comprehensive indictment in August, utilizing the state's anti-racketeering law to target the protesters. Carr described them as "militant anarchists." However, demonstrators and civil rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have condemned the indictment. They accused Carr, a Republican, of imposing severe charges in an attempt to silence a movement that has mobilized environmentalists and anti-police protesters nationwide.

All 61 individuals who were indicted were scheduled to have their charges formally read in court. Fifty-seven of them appeared in small groups before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Esmond Adams over a three-hour period. Each of them waived their arraignment, except for four defendants who failed to show up. One of them was believed to be in France, while prosecutors did not have a valid address for him. Another was in federal immigration custody. A third individual, who was not an American citizen and had left the country, attempted to return twice in recent days to attend the hearing but was denied entry. The fourth defendant simply did not show up.

The majority of those who appeared in court had not surrendered at the Fulton County Jail to be booked on their charges. Some had recently reached agreements with prosecutors regarding bail amounts and conditions, while others were still in the process of doing so. Judge Adams informed them that they had until 10 a.m. the following day to turn themselves in. Failure to comply could result in an arrest warrant being issued and the revocation of any granted bail.

Furthermore, Judge Adams instructed defense attorneys to provide the attorney general's office with hard drives by Friday so that copies of evidence, known as discovery, could be shared. Prosecutors are expected to finish copying and distributing the evidence to defense attorneys by the end of the year. Judge Adams also stated that a final plea hearing would be scheduled no later than the end of June, emphasizing that any plea agreements with prosecutors must be reached before that date.

Outside the courthouse, a couple of hundred supporters of the "Stop Cop City" movement rallied, demonstrating their opposition to the planned training facility. They sang, chanted, and waved signs. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and other supporters argue that the $90 million facility, covering 85 acres, would address the insufficient training facilities and help with the recruitment and retention of police officers. However, opponents express concerns about potential police militarization and the environmental impact on the predominantly Black and economically disadvantaged South River Forest area.

Protests against the project intensified after the fatal shooting of 26-year-old protester Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, also known as Tortuguita, in January. A prosecutor recently announced that he would not pursue charges against the state troopers involved in Paez Teran's death, deeming their use of deadly force as "objectively reasonable." This decision further fueled the protesters' outrage.

The individuals indicted in August were already facing charges related to their alleged involvement in the movement. The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) charges they now face could result in additional sentences of five to 20 years in prison on top of the penalties for the underlying acts. The indictment alleges a conspiracy involving various crimes, ranging from possessing fire accelerant and throwing Molotov cocktails at police officers to receiving reimbursement for supplies like glue and food for activists who had been camping near the construction site for months.

As the arraignment proceedings unfolded, Associated Press photographer Mike Stewart contributed to the reporting of these events.