(WFRV) – Two Wisconsin women are facing domestic terrorism charges after an attack on a proposed Atlanta police training center.
According to the Atlanta Police Department, on March 5, a group of ‘violent agitators’ used the cover of a peaceful protest of the proposed Atlanta Public Safety Training Center to mount a ‘coordinated attack’ on construction equipment and police officers. The group allegedly changed into black clothing, entered the construction area and allegedly began throwing large rocks, bricks, Molotov cocktails and fireworks at police officers.
Authorities say the group destroyed several pieces of construction equipment. Several law enforcement agencies were dispatched to the area and several people were detained.
A total of 35 ‘agitators’ were detained and after further investigations 23 of them were arrested and charged with domestic terrorism. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is the collection agency.
The police issued the following statement:
The illegal actions of the agitators could have resulted in bodily harm and clearly do not reflect a peaceful demonstration. Fortunately, officers exercised good judgment and restraint while conducting non-lethal enforcement and arrests. With protests planned in the coming days, the Atlanta Police Department, working with law enforcement partners, has a multi-layered strategy that includes response and arrests.
City of Atlanta Police Department
Of the 23 who were arrested, both 19-year-old Kayley Meissner and 22-year-old Grace Martin are from Wisconsin. Jail records show the two have a Madison address, each with their own zip code.
Jail records for Meissner and Martin show domestic terrorism listed as the charge.
No further information was provided. Local 5 will update this story if more details are released.
