Representative Paul Tittl is pointing to a situation in Atlanta Georiga as proof that public safety is still very important in Wisconsin. The following is his op-ed.
This week, authorities arrested over 30 people for setting fire to a police training center under construction in Atlanta, Georgia. Domestic terrorism charges were brought on 23 of those detained. The planned $90 million 85-acre training site was on the radar of left-wing activists since the City of Atlanta approved the privately-funded project in June 2021. Some of the left-wing activists charged include ANTIFA members, criminal justice reform activists, and environmentalists.
The protesters claimed to be concerned with the militarization of police and deforestation. They argued the construction of the facility would damage the environment because trees would be cut down. In our ever-developing world, construction projects often result in clearing land for the purposes of the build. Protesters fought as though an entire forest needed to be cut down for the development of the training center.
Furthermore, the anti-cop protesters argue that development of the training facility will exacerbate police violence as police become further equipped to oppress poor and working class people. On the contrary, this would amplify police training efforts, which the left wants. I want well-trained police. A state-of-the-art police training facility achieves better trained cops. This new facility will include an amphitheater, classrooms and training areas for police to carry out simulated crime situations, such as shootouts. All without tax money from the public.
Mayor Andre Dickens, a liberal Democrat himself, also backs the project’s public safety priorities. “The city of Atlanta has the most extensive training requirements in the Southeast,” he said, “Our training includes vital areas like de-escalation training techniques, mental health, community-oriented policing, crisis intervention training, as well as civil rights history education.” “This training needs space, and that’s exactly what this training center is going to offer.”
The deplorable situation causes me to believe the protesters are not acting in good faith. Again, I find myself perplexed by the hidden motivation behind their violence. Actions such as these resemble anarchy, not protest.
On Sunday, as this story hit national news, I watched privileged youth attack the law enforcement training facility in Atlanta. In disgust, I watched left-wing activists attack a law enforcement center while they claim we need better training for police. Attacking and destroying a facility that would give us this training they are advocating for is counterproductive to protecting our society as we know it.
We need to support our police, support our officers in blue.
Of the 35 people arrested, only three people were from Georgia, one was a legal observer from the Southern Poverty Center, the rest were either foreigners or out-of-staters. I am embarrassed to say even two were from Wisconsin.
It is insanity to claim that a person wearing a badge is racist. That kind of logic is like saying I am a car because I am standing in my garage. I hope this serves as a call to action, a call to support and reinforce positive behavior toward our men in blue, emergency medical providers, and firefighters. After all, would we attack a firefighting or emergency medical provider training center?
It is about time that we depart from the foolishness and violence and support the people we would call in an emergency. Lord knows that if protesters were in an emergency situation, they would be calling the police. However, I am confident our law enforcement and firefighters will always answer the call.
Twenty-three have already been charged as domestic terrorists which I am sure will make their parents very proud. Rather than partaking in the workforce and building a productive life, left-wing protesters choose to loot and throw Molotov cocktails. Again, the situation and protesters are deplorable and we are better than this. America is better and society as a whole is better.
So as we vote in April and the coming years, let us support those who back our police and firefighters because they run toward danger when we call. Unlike the deplorables who throw fire and run away wearing masks, our firefighters run into burning buildings with masks.
