In a dramatic turn for one of the most contentious protest crackdowns in recent U.S. history, a Fulton County judge announced on September 9, 2025, that he intends to dismiss racketeering charges against all 61 defendants accused of attempting to halt construction of Atlanta’s sprawling public safety training center, known by critics as “Cop City.” The ruling, delivered by Superior Court Judge Kevin Farmer, marks a pivotal moment in a legal saga that has gripped Atlanta and reverberated through national debates over protest rights, police militarization, and environmental justice.
According to the Associated Press and Reuters, Judge Farmer determined that Republican Attorney General Chris Carr lacked the necessary authority to bring the sweeping 2023 indictments under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. “It would have been real easy to just ask the governor, ‘Let me do this, give me a letter,’” Farmer said from the bench, referencing the state constitutional requirement for written authorization from Governor Brian Kemp. “The steps just weren’t followed.”
The case, widely believed to be the largest racketeering prosecution ever brought against protesters in the U.S., targeted an array of alleged activities—from Molotov cocktail attacks and arson to distributing food and fliers in the South River Forest, the site of the $90 million training complex. The indictment carried potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison for those convicted, a prospect that loomed over a movement composed of social justice activists, environmentalists, and community organizers.
Judge Farmer’s decision did not come as a total surprise to legal observers, but its scope stunned many. The judge also ruled that Carr lacked the authority to pursue arson charges against several defendants, though he indicated that separate domestic terrorism counts may still proceed. Farmer stated he would file a formal order soon, leaving open the possibility that parts of the indictment could survive, depending on appeals and further judicial review.
Deputy Attorney General John Fowler, leading the prosecution, sharply disagreed with the ruling, calling it “wholly incorrect” and vowing to appeal. The state’s legal team argued that the charges were essential to curbing what they described as an “extremist” conspiracy to interfere with the training center’s construction. The Georgia state constitution, however, limits the attorney general’s authority to pursue criminal cases in state court without explicit gubernatorial approval, a technicality that ultimately proved fatal to the prosecution’s case.
The legal battle has unfolded against the backdrop of years of heated protests and public debate over the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. The 85-acre wooded site, once called the “lungs of Atlanta” by environmentalists, became a flashpoint for activists who argued that the project would destroy a vital green space and further militarize the city’s police force. The “Stop Cop City” movement, as it became known, attracted national attention and widespread support from civil rights and environmental groups.
Protesters’ tactics ranged from erecting barricades and building makeshift treehouses to organizing community events and distributing supplies to demonstrators camping in the forest. Over a two-year period, tensions escalated as authorities attempted to clear the site, culminating in several violent confrontations. In March 2023, a police raid led to a riot and the fatal shooting of protester Manuel Paez Terán, known as Tortuguita. According to Reuters and The Guardian, Terán was shot 57 times by six law enforcement officers. A state investigation concluded that Terán fired first, wounding an officer before police returned fire, but Terán’s family has consistently disputed these findings, insisting that he had his hands raised when killed.
The indictment itself was sweeping and, according to the Atlanta Community Press Collective, included allegations for acts as minor as signing a name as “ACAB” (an anti-police acronym) and as serious as throwing incendiary devices. Critics, including many legal experts and civil liberties advocates, lambasted the charges as politically motivated, arguing they were intended to chill dissent and suppress activism. “This is a win and hopefully many more will come,” defense attorney Xavier de Janon told the Associated Press. “The prosecutions haven’t ended against this movement, and I hope that people continue to pay attention to how the state is dealing with protests and activism, because it hasn’t ended.”
Supporters of the prosecution, including Governor Kemp and Attorney General Carr, maintained that the charges were crucial for public safety and necessary to deter what they described as “out-of-state radicals” intent on disrupting Atlanta’s progress. The political stakes are high: Carr is seeking the Republican nomination for governor in 2026, and the ruling could deal a blow to his campaign. The case has become a lightning rod for broader debates about the limits of state power, the right to protest, and the line between activism and criminality.
Among those swept up in the RICO indictment were not just frontline protesters but also legal observers and community supporters. One defendant, Thomas Jurgens, was a staff attorney at the Southern Poverty Law Center and was arrested while wearing a bright yellow hat identifying him as a legal observer during a music festival organized by the Stop Cop City coalition. The inclusion of such individuals in the indictment further fueled criticism of the prosecution’s approach.
Even as Judge Farmer’s decision offers relief to many defendants, the legal uncertainty continues. In August, another judge dismissed a state domestic terrorism charge against Cop City protester Jamie Marsicano, citing a lack of progression in the case and suggesting that the attorney general’s office may have delayed proceedings for tactical reasons. Still, the specter of ongoing prosecution remains, especially for those facing domestic terrorism allegations.
The Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, meanwhile, opened earlier this year, despite the protests, delays, and security concerns that dogged its construction. For the city’s officials, the facility represents a vital investment in public safety and emergency preparedness. For opponents, it stands as a symbol of government overreach and environmental loss.
As appeals loom and the dust settles on Judge Farmer’s landmark ruling, Atlanta finds itself at a crossroads: grappling with the legacy of protest, the boundaries of state authority, and the enduring tension between security and civil liberties. The outcome of this legal battle will likely echo far beyond Georgia, shaping the national conversation on protest and power for years to come.