Atlanta activists in drive to put fate of controversial ‘Cop City’ on ballot

Officials approve petition that allows organizers to move forward with a historic referendum on huge police training complex

Volunteers are fanning out across Atlanta looking to get tens of thousands of voters to sign a petition that would put the fate of the controversial police and fire department training center known as Cop City" on a November ballot, even as organisers have accused the city of unfairly delaying the start of the effort.

Cop City came to global attention after police shot dead Manuel Paez Teran, an environmental protester, in a January raid on the forest - the first incident of its kind in US history. The state says Paez Teran shot first. A special prosecutor is evaluating the case.