Judge Says State Violated Cop City Protester's Rights, Dismisses Terror Charge

https://truthout.org/articles/judge-says-state-violated-cop-city-protesters-rights-dismisses-terror-charge/

Judge Says State Violated Cop City Protester’s Rights, Dismisses Terror Charge

“The State’s delay appears to be deliberate, weighing heavily against it,” the judge wrote in his ruling.

By Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg , TRUTHOUT
Published August 15, 2025

Georgia judge has dismissed a state domestic terrorism charge against Cop City protestor Jamie Marsicano, but they and dozens of others still face racketeering charges.

Superior Court Judge Gregory A. Adams ruled that the prosecution’s delays violated Marsicano’s due process rights and their right to a speedy trial. In March 2023, law enforcement officers arrested close to two dozen protesters, including Marsicano, at a Stop Cop City music festival. The festival was held in Weelaunee Forest, in the area where the City of Atlanta was building the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, known as Cop City, a police training base.

Marsicano spent more than two weeks in jail and was then released on a $25,000 bond. All of the protesters were charged with domestic terrorism, but, more than two years later, none have been indicted.

“Since Defendant’s bond hearing, there has been no further progression or prosecution of this individual case other than bond modifications made at Defendant’s request,” the judge wrote in his ruling. The attorney general “appears to have delayed this matter in order to gain tactical advantage over the defense,” Adams wrote.

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