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Category: Community Building

A CALL TO REJECT FASCIST CREEP IN THE WELAUNEE FOREST

Posted on May 18, 2022 - May 18, 2022 by scenes

It’s approaching summertime and things are heating up in so-called Atlanta. Forest defense continues as bold as ever, and my friends and lovers are putting their bodies and freedom on the line to stop the encroachment of development and the police into the forest. Around the city and even outside of it, we are bringing the struggle to those that would prefer to quietly profit from destruction, we are laying aside the machines that kill the forest. People are starting to pay attention. Ecofascists are starting to pay attention. I have cried tears of joy at the mass movement my friends have made, the diversity of tactics fostered, and the huge number of people brought in. But this movement can only exist if we remember that we are engaged in a three way fight (http://threewayfight.blogspot.com/p/about.html). Fascists are engaged in their own fight with the state as well as their own eliminationist campaign against all they deem as deviant, especially those with Black and trans identities. Rather than simply serving as a tool for the state, fascists are seeking to overthrow the state to create their own murderous regime, and will try to use us, to co-opt our movement. The movement to Stop Cop City has already seen attempted fascist creep (https://dirtysouthrightwatch.org/2021/boogaloo-in-atlanta/). Not everyone who hates the cops and hates that state is our friend. As our movement continues to grow, ecofascists will see us as a useful tool for their own goals. After all, they like trees, we like trees, we hate the state, they hate the state. But that’s where the similarities end. In their calls to action, they will tell us to protect a specific “people” rather than all people, who we stand for. They will throw around words like us being “slaves” to technology – as we fight to remember the lives lost of enslaved Black people. They will evoke spirituality, but they will ignore the spirituality of the Muscogee people whose land we are on. Most importantly of all, they will publicly call on us to take action that will directly lead to our friends and lovers being jailed, being beaten, and potentially being killed. We are a militant movement for sure, but we are avoiding undue risk as we continue this joyful struggle. To the ecofascists, we are just another tool, and they would see us locked up and dead if it meant supporting their cause. Just this past weekend, a self-described ecofascist who cited Kaczynski killed 11 people in so-called Buffalo, New York in an explicit attempt to murder as many Black people as possible. We reject all calls to violence for a “people”. AS THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES, WE CALL FOR A REJECTION OF FASCIST CREEP IN THE MOVEMENT TO STOP COP CITY WE CALL FOR A REJECTION OF FASCIST CREEP IN THE WELAUNEE FOREST WE CALL FOR A REJECTION OF THE EMBRACE OF FASCIST AETHETICS WE CALL FOR VIGILANCE AGAINST THESE THREATS TO OUR FRIENDS AND LOVERS WE CALL FOR A COMMUNITY BASED ON LOVE AND PROTECTION OF THAT WHICH WE HOLD DEAR

-Received anonymously over email

We have received concerned emails and other forms of contact regarding two submitted videos and a statement that contained fascist imagery and covert fascist ideology hidden under a thin veil of radical language and identity politics which was hosted on our site. We believe that this was possibly an effort to incorporate the “fascist creep” subtly to normalize and spread fascism.  After being made aware we promptly took it down and we thank everyone who reached out to us, and to the above person for writing this statement which we agree with and can assume is in response and reference to the previously mentioned released statement and videos. We will work better to identify threats and bad actors in the future. We apologize for having shared it in the first place.
– scenes

Posted in Calls to Action, Community Building, General

POLICE RETREAT FROM FOREST

Posted on May 7, 2022 - May 7, 2022 by scenes

On Wednesday May 4th police cut the a poop bucket contraption locked to the gate, by using a ladder to get it from over the fence, however they didn’t get much farther then that. According to scanners, they encountered a flaming barricade as soon as they opened the fence. They eventually cleared the barricade and drove into the forest a little ways. Then promptly backed off when met with a barrage of rocks and smoke bombs. It is not clear what the objective of the police was that day, but they definitely did not achieve it. It was also observed that barricades and the Atlanta steamer were restored by the next day. Nature is healing

Posted in Community Building, General, Report Backs

A Fearful Conversation over dinner

Posted on April 26, 2022 - April 26, 2022 by scenes

The first of hopefully many fictional accounts of the Defend The Atlanta Forest Movement. This is a one scene play. Please perform this in any of the following locations: the forest, the front lawn of the High Museum, or in front of the Atlanta Police Foundation office.

Characters: Dean Reeves. Patty Reeves

Scene

Patty is standing by the table with two plates full of meat. Dean enters from stage right.

Dean: I just got off the phone Heinrich and MuchoMachoMan will start being given round the clock secuirty starting next week.

The two sit down at the table.

Patty: Oh Dean I haven’t been able to eat in days and I don’t think today will be any different.

Dean: Didn’t you hear what I just said? MuchoMachoMan is safe now.

Patty: How can you think secuirty makes him safer? Was there security when Forest Defenders went to your office? Was there security when Forest Defenders sabatoged those machines at your work site?

Dean stands up from the table fists clinched.

Dean: Now you listen to me Patty. In May Reeves Young is supposed to start chopping those trees down; this is going to get worse before it gets better. Who knows what Forest Defenders will do when we try to cut the trees down.

Patty stands up, tears in her eyes.

Patty: Do you hear yourself Dean? How could it get worse? Forest Defenders already have beencto our house and put that banner up. I can’t live in fear anymore Dean. The Forest Defenders they know our names. They know our addresses. We don’t even need the money; we’re millionaires and your business has plenty of other contracts.

Dean falls to his knees.

Dean: Fine Patty you win, the Forest Defenders win. The Forest Defenders will just have to stop another company like they did us.

Patty and Dean both sit down at the table.

Patty: Oh Dean thank you so much. Now I can eat this horse meat for dinner

Dean: It’s delicious honey. MuchoMachoMan’s children are the tastiest horses imaginable.

End scene.

Posted in Art, Community Building, General

CALLING ALL TO THE FOREST: THE TIME IS NOW

Posted on April 23, 2022 - April 23, 2022 by scenes


ON APRIL 21st, FOREST DEFENDERS OVERHEARD WORKERS STATE THAT FOREST DESTRUCTION AND EVICTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN MAY 3

This is a CALL-TO-ACTION for eco-warriors worldwide to come help defend the forest from any further police intrusion and destruction! The kkkops would train here to militarize against those resisting all systems of oppression; in the name of abolition we must take action!

We have over 500 acres to defend between fighting off the police and staving off Hollywood from clear-cutting the forest for their bullshit movies.
If you come to make a stand against the long arm of the law, know that autonomous action is encouraged!
Go feral! Build pirate ships! Dance with us! Don’t bring your hierarchical shit here. Leave your clocks.
Bring your art and your fury! Let’s supplant the slimy fingers of the police and oppressive systems they make possible.

If you are interested in throwing down and joining our funky feral brigade, hit us up on the riseup at:

dtfatlotg@protonmail.com

See you in the Forest!
With Love and Rage,
-Camp Deadnettle-

– Recieved anonymously over mail

Posted in Calls to Action, Community Building, General, News

Campaign Against cop city and it’s Subontractors

Posted on April 9, 2022 - April 9, 2022 by scenes

http://stopreevesyoung.com

“APF is unable to build Cop City alone. They have contracted Reeves-Young to build it for them. Reeves-Young cannot complete this project without its subcontractors. SRY is a campaign to urge these subcontractors to stop participating in the construction of Cop City and/or divest from their dealings with Reeves-Young.

The subcontractors have many other contracts. As service providers, they do not depend on the completion of the Cop City to continue their business operations. Reeves-Young represents just one of their many contracts, just as APF is only one of Reeves-Young’s many contracts. Everyone involved in this project is complicit in some way with the destruction of the forest, the militarization of the police, and the development of a racist and violent project. The fact is that they have economic incentives to move forward with this project. We must create disincentives.

Through this campaign we seek to educate the subcontractors and ask them to drop this single contract. These companies only care about their bottom line: making profits and securing more contracts. By pressuring companies that do not have a commitment to the APF, but do have a commitment to Reeves-Young, we believe we can get them to drop their contracts without incurring significant economic risks. When Reeves-Young realizes that it is not worthwhile to keep the Cop City contract if it means jeopardizing all of their other projects, we believe they will cancel the APF agreement as well. One by one, as subcontractors drop out, we will cause delays and budget increases until it becomes logistically, economically and politically impossible to move forward with the destruction of the forest or the construction of the Cop City.

SRY is a media clearinghouse, providing journalistic updates on the movement. We provide information and updates about the campaign, contextualized within the broader struggle to defend the South Atlanta forest. We maintain this site for educational and journalistic purposes, and are not responsible for the acts or deeds that we report on.”
– From the website

Posted in Calls to Action, Community BuildingTagged events, reeves young, source stopreevesyoung.com

Spring 2022 Week Of Action

Posted on March 12, 2022 - April 3, 2022 by scenes

defend the ATL forest! May 8-15 pic.twitter.com/pELLt0tMJk

— Defend the Atlanta Forest (@defendATLforest) March 12, 2022

Posted in Calls to Action, Community Building, GeneralTagged events, joy, source:dtf-twitter, week of action

Defend the Barricades; Calling Feral Anarchists to Atlanta Forest!

Posted on March 9, 2022 - March 19, 2022 by scenes
“No Forest? No Peace! Truck the Police!”, reads a banner hanging from a skypod attached to an overturned truck blocking the ONLY Bridge crossing the little creek between the police construction staging ground and the main part of the forest which they intend to destroy.“No Forest? No Peace! Truck the Police!”, reads a banner hanging from a skypod attached to an overturned truck blocking the ONLY  Bridge crossing the little creek between  the police construction staging ground and the main part of the forest which they intend to destroy.
  This is a CALL-TO-ACTION for eco-warriors worldwide to come help defend the forest from any further police intrusion and destruction! The kkkops would train here to militarize against those resisting all systems of oppression; in the name of abolition we must take action!
   We need ingenious comrades to help person and support the skypod (the “Truck Stop”), as well as help maintain the TEN existing barricades around the Camp Deadnettle areas (& forge new ones!)
    Deadnettle is a virulent plant that grows in disturbed soil, in this it is akin to our rag-tag crew of rowdy comrades who gather in places of disruption to stand against the machines.
  This is OUR forest and will NEVER become the mock kkkop training city they intend it to be!
  We have over 500 acres to defend between fighting off the police and staving off Hollywood from clear-cutting the forest for their bullshit movies.
     If you come to make a stand against the long arm of the law, know that autonomous action is encouraged!
  Go feral! Build pirate ships! Dance with us! Don’t bring your hierarchical shit here. Leave your clocks.
Bring your art and your fury! Let’s supplant the slimy fingers of the police and oppressive systems they make possible.
   The main gate police and earth destroying machinery use to enter the forest has been barricaded shut– help us keep it that way!
  If you are interested in throwing down and joining our funky feral brigade, hit us up on the riseup at:
atldtf@riseup.net
See you in the Forest!
With Love and Rage,
-Camp Deadnettle-
– Received Anonymously Over Email
Posted in Calls to Action, Communiques, Community Building, General

Rally To Stop Cop City

Posted on February 9, 2022 by scenes

Feb 12th @ 2pm 3251 Westside Place SE

Posted in Community Building, GeneralTagged public speaking

Defending The Atlanta Forest – Background and Reportback

Posted on January 28, 2022 - January 28, 2022 by scenes
   Since Summer of 2021 there has been an active effort to prevent the development of the South River Forest. This effort is intersectional and has been supported by a wide variety of groups for several reasons.

SOME HISTORIC BACKGROUND

    The South River Forest is historically one of the regions where the Mvskoke people lived prior to their forced removal from the land. Following that the land was used for a plantation that was worked by enslaved peoples. Then, after the civil war, it was the site of one of the first transitions from chattel slavery to prison slavery. The prison on the land was where residents of the surrounding areas were detained and pressed into forced farm labor.
    Once the prison was closed, the South River Forest was treated as a dumping ground. When Atlanta’s first public library was destroyed, pieces were left on the land, dead zoo animals were buried on the land, and the old structures of the prison fell into ruin. As the forest sits at the base of Atlanta’s water shed, the combination of the misuse of the land, the pollution of Atlanta, and the mistreatment of the land left the water and soil badly contaminated.
    The South River Forest now houses Intrenchment Creek Park, the Atlanta Radio Control Club, a private police officer shooting range, and a system of trails that are used by the community.
   Now, two entities are planning to destroy the forest for their own purposes. One is Blackhall Studios, which plans to build an enormous sound stage, and the other is the Atlanta Police Department, which wants to build a facility that has become colloquially known as “Cop City.”
    The surrounding neighborhoods are primarily populated by lower-income residents, so the construction of the Blackhall sound stage will result in gentrification that will displace the local residents.
    The construction of Cop City has wide ranging implications. It is meant to be an urban warfare training facility for the region and would drive militarization of police across the southeast. Its construction will create a precedent for urban warfare training facilities across the United States and the world. We have historical precendence of this as seen with the School of the Americas. https://www.grunge.com/338237/the-messed-up-history-of-the-school-of-the-americas/.
    All of this comes before even considering the ecological and environmental relevence of protecting this forest. The South River Forest is one of the largest urban forests in the United States. It is populated by diverse species such as coyotes and beavers, and is home to multiple trees that are centuries old.

FOREST OCCUPATION AND DEFENSE

    Occupation began in late 2021 with a camp on the Blackhall side of the forest. It was built by those who we will call “forest defenders” for the rest of this document. This includes everyone from those sitting in the trees, to the local public. These people are comrades, but many of us do not even know each other. Entities within this broad term act autonomously of one another, even if they have similar goals.
    Following the eviction of the original camp, a new camp was established on the side of the forest designated for the building of Cop City. Over the course of several weeks, two tree-sits were built. As the two tree sits on the Cop City side of the forest were being completed, construction began.
    Construction started on January 18th, 2022. Early in the morning, forest defenders noticed the presence of surveyors touring the forest. We had been alerted that there were going to be soil tests in order to prepare for building, so we were unsurprised. We also knew that the APD hadn’t acquired the appropriate permits to remove trees from the forest, which has been confirmed by the Dekalb Land Development manager. We were also unsurprised by the arrival of a bulldozer.
    The workers used the bulldozer to rip new paths through the forest, destroying countless trees and saplings. Their plan was to create these new paths so that they could bring in their soil borer. Forest defenders converged on the bulldozer, and safely escorted the workers out of the forest. Afterwards, the windows of the bulldozer were smashed.
    Police came to the forest to stop the forest defenders. Some retreated while others remained. A police officer pointed a gun at one forest defender, who was subsequently detained but not arrested. Construction didn’t resume for the rest of the week, giving forest defenders time to prepare. During this time, a few visitors came to the forest including a state surveyor, but  things remained largely quiet.

THIS PAST WEEK OF ACTION

    On Monday the 24th, a new group of construction workers came to the forest including surveyors and underground utility workers. Police escorted these workers through the forest while forest defenders played cat and mouse with them. Undercover cops surrounded the forest intimidating those who would park nearby. As such, outside support showed up, but not enmasse.
    On Tuesday the 25th, surveyors, a bulldozer, and a police escort arrived in the morning. Yet again, the bulldozer was used to destroy trees. It is important to note that this activity was still illegal due to the lack of permits. Thankfully, work was delayed by barricades and a lack of survey markers. Forest defenders played cat and mouse, and were pursued by the police. Two people were detained and served criminal trespass warnings, but not arrested.
    That night, a meeting was called. Two protests were planned: a “March for the Forest” for Friday the 28th, and another for two weeks from the date of the meeting. Community supporters coordinated with each other in order to ensure that everyone would know where to go. With a plan in place, we went into the next day more confident.
    On Wednesday the 26th, forest defenders managed to block the bulldozers. The Atlanta Police Department and the Dekalb Police Department collaborated in pursuing them. This time the police brought ATVs that they could use to chase people, and a drone for surveillance. Tools were brought to destroy the barricades, and all but one were destroyed. Soil bores were successfully taken, but there were no detentions or arrests.
    On Thursday the 27th, workers and police were on-site, dismantling barricades and placing survey stakes. The cat and mouse continued.
    On Friday the 28th, 60+ forest defenders and community members gathered to march together. This group marched through the Intrenchment Creek Park side of the forest, took the streets for a time, then entered the forest. Forest defenders confronted cops and workers operating boring machinery. An estimated 4-6 forest defenders were arrested, and a noise demo was organized to support them from inside.
    All in all, we are humbled by the love and support of our communities. Many have volunteered their time and talents to help defend the forest. We are holding out, but there is still more that we can and will do.
    At this point we are in need of two main things: More people to help support tree sits and defend the forest from destruction, and legal attempts to delay construction. Please, join us, support us, and protect your community!
Check out https://scenes.noblogs.org/ for more info/past communiques and email atldtf@riseup.net to get in touch if you’re interested in coming.
Love and Rage,
The Forest Animals
-Submitted anonymously over email
Posted in Community Building, General, Report BacksTagged apf, direct action, ecodefense, encampment, events, police, protest

FUCK COPS//JOIN US IN THE FOREST

Posted on January 27, 2022 - January 28, 2022 by scenes


The time is now! This is a call from some of us living in the Atlanta Forest; We invite you to join us in its defense. The forest, which is stolen Muscogee land, is slated to become a mock-city for police training. We have no intention of allowing this, nor of limiting our efforts to tree sits and lockdowns (already there have been 2 arson attacks, damaged machinery, home and office visits, barricades, etc.). The more people there are staying in the forest, the more options are open to us. Living in the forest gives us ability to immediately respond to any threat the forest faces. We must not allow them an inch without meeting opposition. Not one blade of grass. As it stands, the forest feels autonomous and the police are reluctant to go deep within it. Help us keep it that way. Come now to defend the forest, in struggle against the police and the civilization that needs them. Check out https://scenes.noblogs.org/ for more info/past communiques and email atldtf@riseup.net to get in touch if you’re interested in coming.

-Submitted anonymously over email

Posted in Calls to Action, Community Building, GeneralTagged apf, direct action, ecodefense, encampment, events, police, protest

Resources For Food And Legal Support

Posted on December 25, 2021 - December 25, 2021 by scenes

FOOD DISTROS FROM FOOD4LIFE:
https://atlsurvival.org/food/

  • Lakewood:
    Location: Corner of Lakewood and Rhodesia
    Every Saturday 12-12:30
  • Bankhead:
    Location: 1060 Donald Lee Hollowell
    Every Saturday 1-1:30
  • Edgewood:
    Location: Corner Mayson and Hardee
    Every Sunday 1-3:00
  • Clarkston:
    Location: Corner of E Ponce de Leon and Brockett
    Every Tuesday 4-5:30
  • Westlake:
    Location 1616 Joseph E Boone
    Every Thursday 2-2:30

FREE99 FRIDGES: https://free99fridge.com/index.php/locations/

ATLANTA SOLIDARITY FUND: https://atlsolidarity.org/

Atlanta Solidarity Fund “provide[s] support for people who are arrested at protests, or otherwise prosecuted for their movement involvement”

 

-Received anonymously over Email and formatted for ease of reading

 

Posted in Community BuildingTagged diy

Muscogee (Creek) tribal members migrate to homelands 200 years after ancestors’ forced removal

Posted on December 11, 2021 - January 31, 2022 by scenes

https://www.mainlinezine.com/muscogee-creek-tribal-members-migrate-to-homelands-200-years-after-ancestors-forced-removal/

Women of the Muscogee (Creek) communities in Oklahoma dance during the cultural activities in the South River Forest on Nov. 27. Photo credit: Jesse Pratt López / The Mainline, 2021.
Women of the Muscogee (Creek) communities in Oklahoma dance during the cultural activities in the South River Forest on Nov. 27. Photo credit: Jesse Pratt López / The Mainline, 2021.

“MVSKOKE TERRITORY — On Sat., Nov. 27, tribal members of the Muscogee (Creek) Tribe currently based in the Helvpe Ceremonial Grounds of so-called Eastern Oklahoma returned to their ancestral homelands known as Atlanta. […] The Muscogee (Creek) community leaders of Oklahoma were joined by other first nation peoples from Alabama and Georgia to participate in cultural sharing and stomp dance ceremonies in the South River Forest located in unincorporated DeKalb County. The event was open to the public and the larger community in the metro area, with hundreds in attendance. The ceremonies were performed in Intrenchment Creek Park, which resides next to a plot of land known as the Old Atlanta Prison Farm. Both plots of land are currently under threat of further development, construction, and deforestation in long-standing battles in the city.” – from article

Posted in Community BuildingTagged events, muscogee

Coming up: Muscogee Stomp Dance & Culture Sharing

Posted on November 23, 2021 - November 23, 2021 by scenes

Muscogee Stomp Dance & Culture Sharing. November 27 5pm-7pm. South River Trail Intrenchment Creek Trailhead W Side Pl Atlanta GA 30316. Happening rain or shine. Join the Atlanta community in welcoming Muscogee community members from Helvpe Ceremonial grounds to South River Forest. Take part in preserving Atlanta’s indigenous lands.
Flyer

Join the Atlanta community in welcoming Muscogee community members from Helvpe Ceremonial grounds to South River Forest. Take part in preserving Atlanta’s indigenous lands.

Received anonymously over Email

Posted in Community BuildingTagged events, muscogee

An experience of collective joy in the Atlanta forest.

Posted on November 10, 2021 - December 26, 2021 by scenes
@defendatlantaforest

An experience of collective joy in the Atlanta forest. #defendtheatlantaforest #nocopcity #stopcopcity #plur #fyp #acab #rave

♬ I Think of Saturday – Moodymann

Posted in Art, Community BuildingTagged joy, source:tiktok

Fall 21 Week Of Action Events

Posted on November 9, 2021 - January 31, 2022 by scenes

https://www.instagram.com/p/CWE3KXkrpiC/

Posted in Community BuildingTagged events, week of action

Fall 2021 Week Of Action Announced

Posted on October 25, 2021 - January 31, 2022 by scenes

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVdUEPCrQAn/

Posted in Community BuildingTagged events, week of action

Fuck Cop City Labor Day BBQ

Posted on September 7, 2021 - January 31, 2022 by scenes

Signs placed on John Keen's yard

Signs on John Keen’s Yard      https://www.instagram.com/p/CTcl4B3L7uo/

Posted in Community BuildingTagged city council, events, home demo

Rally To Divest From Cop City

Posted on August 21, 2021 - December 11, 2021 by scenes

https://t.me/DefendtheForestATL/891

Posted in Community Building, General

DARC Canvassing

Posted on August 21, 2021 - December 11, 2021 by scenes

https://t.me/DefendtheForestATL/883

Posted in Community Building, General

Rally To Stop Cop City

Posted on August 15, 2021 - December 11, 2021 by scenes

https://t.me/DefendtheForestATL/862

Posted in Community Building, General

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  • WANTED POSTER
  • Poem By An Animal In The Weelaunee Forest
  • Attack on Bank of America in Minneapolis In Solidarity With Arrested Forest Defenders
  • Construction Vehicles Vandalized In Lane County in Solidarity With The Forest Defenders In Atlanta
  • A CALL TO REJECT FASCIST CREEP IN THE WELAUNEE FOREST
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