A deeper analysis on the RICO charges against 61 Atlanta police training center protesters

Law enforcement takes part in clearing protestors from the South River Forest, the site of the proposed Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, in January. Authorities shot and killed one protester after they allegedly fired at law enforcement. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr recently indicted 61 people on racketeering charges following a state investigation into the ongoing protests against the proposed Atlanta Public Safety Training Center.

In the 100-plus page indictment, Carr claims the defendants are “militant anarchists” who supported a violent movement of racial justice protests that span all the way back to 2020.

On Wednesday’s edition of “Closer Look” defense attorney David West talked with show host Rose Scott about the developing case and discussed what’s next.

“It’s apparent what they are trying to do is send a national message,” explained West. “It seems like a conservative decision to send a national message that we need to prosecute these people somewhere because they are attacking these institutions. And we’re going to do it this way, and the biggest way to scare other people from getting involved and helping these people is you take their lines of support away from them.”

“So, if you intimidate these bonding agents by arresting them, other bonding companies aren’t going to want to sign on bonds. They are not going to want to help these groups,” West added.