Community rally planned for downtown Columbus regarding Atlanta Forest Defenders
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A community rally is scheduled this week in downtown Columbus in honor of a man, who was shot and killed by law enforcement, after allegedly shooting a Georgia State Trooper at the site of a future Atlanta Public Safety Training Center.
Several days ago, on January 18, 2023, at about 9:00 a.m., as law enforcement was moving through the property to conduct an operation to identify people who are trespassing and committing other crimes on the property, officers located a man inside a tent in the woods.
Officers gave verbal commands to the man who did not comply and shot a Georgia State Patrol Trooper. Other law enforcement officers returned fire, hitting the man. Law enforcement evacuated the Trooper to a safe area. The man, later identified as Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, 26, died on scene. The injured Georgia State Patrol Trooper was taken to a local hospital where he underwent surgery. A handgun and shell casings were located at the scene.
During the multi-agency operation at the site of the future Atlanta Public Safety Training Center that began on January 18, 2023, approximately 25 campsites were located and removed.
Additionally, mortar style fireworks, multiple edged weapons, pellet rifles, gas masks, and a blow torch were recovered. There were three people who were contacted who provided their names to authorities and were free to go.
The following people were arrested and charged with domestic terrorism and criminal trespass, with additional charges pending:
Geoffrey Parsons, age 20, of Maryland
Spencer Bernard Liberto, age 29, of Pennsylvania
Matthew Ernest Macar, age 30, of Pennsylvania
Timothy Murphy, age 25, of Maine
Christopher Reynolds, age 31, of Ohio
Teresa Shen, age 31, of New York
Sarah Wasilewski, age 35, of Pennsylvania
Three days after the operation, on January 21, 2023, during what was supposed to be a peaceful protest in downtown Atlanta, six people were arrested, as well as multiple businesses being damaged, as well an Atlanta police cruiser being set on fire.
The six people were later identified as
Nadja Geier 24, Nashville, TN
Madeleine Feola 22, Spokane, WA
Ivan Ferguson 23, Nevada
Graham Evatt 20, Decatur, GA
Francis Carrol 22, Kennebunkport, ME
Emily Murphy 37, Grosse Isle, MI
On January 24, 2023, the Forest Defenders posted a flyer stating a community rally will be held on January 27, 2023, at 3:30 P.M., at 1301 Broadway. The flyer added “BRASFIELD& GORRIE: YOU HAVE BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS! DROP THE CONTRACT WITH THE ATLANTA POLICE FOUNDATION!!”
Brasfield and Gorrie are currently building multiple structures at 1301 Broadway.
CNAW is being told Columbus law enforcement officials have been made aware of this rally.
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