Why Cop City Must Be Stopped: My RJ Story and Our Struggle

Dear SisterSong Members and Followers,

I write to you today not just as an organizer but as a living, breathing example of what's at stake in our fight against Cop City. The very system that seeks to destroy precious land to build a facility for police is the same system that threatens me with life in a prison cell.

I currently exist in a web of policing. In addition to the increased militarization of our police force that all Atlanta residents face, I am burdened with legal fees from family court so extortionate that if left unpaid, pose the real threat of incarceration. My life hangs in the balance, subject to a system that would rather see me in a cell than see me free. The stakes are far higher than just my personal freedom. It would take away the sole parent in my daughter's life and deprive my aging parents of the care they increasingly rely upon.

However, Cop City affects us all, whether we’re free to live or bound by a system that incentives our incarceration. The proposed construction of this symbol of oppression is in The Weelaunee Forect,near the very neighborhood I once called home and also one of the original homelands of the Mvskoke people. The cycle of dispossession and surveillance manifesting in the building of Cop City is not new. On the contrary, it is deeply ingrained in the history of this land. From the forced removal of the Mvskoke people to the encroachment of a policing complex that could trap even more residents in a web of systemic injustice, the narrative is one of unending displacement and marginalization.

TR Reproductive justice is not just the right to have or not have children,it's the right to parent our children in safe and supportive environments. It's the right to live in communities that are more than playgrounds for over-policing. The connection between reproductive justice and Cop City is clear. By destroying our environment to build a facility for those policing and upending our communities, Cop City sends a clear message that our lives, our families, and our collective well-being are of little consequence.

This is not justice. This is an assault on our very lives and an affront to the reproductive justice we tirelessly advocate for.

They know they are wrong because they seek to silence us. Over 116,000 people signed the "Stop Cop City" petition in an overwhelming show of public dissent. Yet, the Atlanta City Council has refused to even begin the signature verification process, effectively denying citizens a voice in local democracy and the crucial decisions that impact our lives and our community.

I am sharing my story because it's not just mine—it's ours. This is the story of every person who has had to navigate the treacherous waters of systemic inequality while also grappling with the harsh realities of reproductive injustice. We fight against Cop City not just as a political act but as a deeply personal one. We're not merely resisting a construction project; we're resisting an ideology that diminishes our worth, an ideology that we will dismantle, brick by brick, until justice is served. Our bodies, our choices, our families, and our freedoms are on the line.

"If we want a beloved community, we must stand for justice; have recognition for difference without attaching difference to privilege." —bell hooks

If you believe in reproductive justice, if you're committed to freedom, if you recognize that our lives are worth far more than the oppressive weight of a system designed to keep us down, then it's time to stand with us in this battle against Cop City. The moment for action is now. We need you to: 1. Contact City Council Members: Via https://www.instagram.com/wfpgeorgia/ It's time for our voices to be heard. Let's flood the inboxes and voicemails of our City Council members demanding they begin the signature verification process immediately. 2. Read: Reproductive Justice Means #StopCopCity by Jalessah J, Leila A, and Salome A which discusses why the movement for reproductive justice must be anti-imperialist and anti-capitalist.

3. Attend Community Meetings: Be present at the upcoming community and council meetings where Cop City will be discussed.

4. Share Your Story: If you, like me, struggle to find reproductive justice in a system skewed against us, then let your voice be heard. Use the hashtag #MyRJStory #StopCopCity to share your stories on social media or email a personal note to me directly.

5. Donate or Volunteer: Our fight isn't just against Cop City; it's against a system that threatens our very ability to parent and care for our loved ones. Your donations and volunteer hours enable us to continue this vital work.

6. Stay Informed and Keep Others Informed: Knowledge is power. Subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on social media, and keep an eye out for updates and action items. The more we know, the stronger we are.

In Solidarity and With Unyielding Passion,

Danielle Rodriguez Georgia Coordinator,

SisterSong