‘Cop City’ protesters throw ping pong balls during Atlanta council meeting: ‘dropped the ball’

Residents of Atlanta, Georgia gathered at a city council meeting to protest against the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, known as “Cop City.” They threw ping-pong balls and chanted, expressing their opposition to the facility. The protesters had previously submitted a petition with over 100,000 signatures to put a referendum on the ballot for residents to vote on the matter. A federal lawsuit regarding the construction is pending. Supporters of the facility argue it will improve training for police officers, while opponents fear it will lead to increased police militarization, especially in a predominantly Black area. The protests have caused delays and increased costs for the project.