A federal judge overseeing the case involving Atlanta activists’ referendum effort against a police and firefighter training facility has accused city officials of moving the goalposts on the signature-gathering campaign
A federal judge overseeing the case involving Atlanta activists’ referendum effort against a police and firefighter training facility accused city officials on Wednesday of moving the goalposts on the signature-gathering campaign, saying they have “directly contributed” to a widespread sense of confusion over the matter.
But Cohen also said he was “compelled to comment upon the vacillating positions of the City of Atlanta throughout this litigation.”“On June 21, 2023, instead of approving a referendum petition it had no intention to honor regardless of the number of signatures obtained from City residents, the City could have taken the position it later espoused in this lawsuit and disapproved the petition as unauthorized under Georgia law,” Cohen wrote.
Over the past three months, hundreds of activists spread out across the city to gather what they said were more than 116,000 signatures of registered Atlanta voters, far more than necessary to force a vote on the proposed training facility that has outraged environmentalists and anti-police protesters across the country.
Organizers responded by asking Cohen to intervene, but the judge denied the emergency motion, ruling that he cannot step in while the matter is in front of the appellate court, though he conceded that the appellate court’s recent recent pause “leaves both Plaintiffs, the Coalition, and the City in a quandary.”
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'Stop Cop City' petition in limbo as Atlanta officials refuse to process signaturesOfficials from the City of Atlanta have refused to verify tens of thousands of signatures submitted by activists who have been trying for two years to stop the construction of a police and firefighter training center
Read more »
Atlanta officials stall signature processing for ‘Stop Cop City’ petitionActivists say they have gathered enough signatures to force a vote on a controversial police training center, but officials say courts are preventing them from counting.
Read more »
'Stop Cop City' Petition Campaign In Limbo After Signatures Presented To Atlanta OfficialsAtlanta officials have refused to verify signatures submitted by activists who have been trying to stop the construction of a police and firefighter training center.
Read more »
Despite 116,000 Signatures, Atlanta Won’t Validate Stop Cop City PetitionCity officials are waiting to see if the 11th Circuit Court rules in favor of the activists and forces the validation.
Read more »
Atlanta’s ‘Cop City’ is Poised for a Ballot Vote—But Officials Say NoAtlanta activists needed 70,000 signatures to put a controversial police facility up for a vote. They got 116,000. The city still might toss their petition.
Read more »
Cop caught on bodycam laughing about grad student killed in cop car collisionNewly released bodycam footage reveals a Seattle police officer laughed and made light of the death of a young woman who was struck by a cop car, joking she had “limited value” and the …
Read more »