From Riotville to Cop City
by Joanne Coutts
In 1968 the US government was at a crossroads. It could follow the recommendations of the Kerner Commission, convened by President Johnson to identify the causes of the uprisings across the country the previous year, to invest in alleviating the natural fears of the community by providing access to public education, job training, safe housing, acknowledging systemic racism, and curbing police violence. Or it could double down on creating official fear by blaming the uprisings on outside agitators and increasing police budgets and engaging them in military style training.
It chose the latter. This decision has led to a decades long cycle of ramping up official fear of an “other,” — Black people, immigrants, queer folx, Arab-Americans, anarchists, and protesters among others — within the general population, and then presenting an increase in police funding and militarization as the only possible defense against this contrived threat.
One of the earliest police militarization programs was the use of mock towns, Riotsvilles, built on US military bases to practice suppressing civilian protests using military equipment and tactics. At the Riotsvilles, urban police forces “contained” protesters, “played” by US Army soldiers, while officials from local, state, and federal government and law enforcement agencies watched and learned how effective military weapons are against civilians. The history of these Riotsvilles was documented by Sierra Pettengill in the 2022 documentary Riotsville USA, which Detroit DSA recently screened in partnership with the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition and Waawiyatanong Water Protector Network.
The connection between the history told in Riotsville USA and today’s expansion of police and military facilities across the country was the main topic of conversation at the post-film discussion, which focused on the Atlanta Police Foundation’s plans to build Cop City in the Weelaunee Forest in Georgia, and the proposed expansion of Camp Grayling, here in Michigan.
The Atlanta Police Foundation’s plans to build Cop City in southeast Atlanta include a mock town with a convenience store, nightclub and low- and high-rise apartments. Cop City and its ‘Riotsville’ are vehemently opposed by the local community.
At the Atlanta City Council Finance Committee meeting on May 15, committee members heard from nearly 300 residents opposed to the Atlanta Police Foundation’s request for $33.5 million in taxpayer funds for the Cop City project. Atlanta organizer, Micah Herskind told the Daily Beast, “People were not only talking about not wanting Cop City. They were also saying, ‘hey, you have $30 million? Put that in our schools, put that in affordable housing, put that in our streets, put that in childcare, in food for people, for people who are homeless.” Despite this overwhelming public opposition, the Finance Committee approved the funding. The request will now go to a full City Council vote on June 6.
Contrary to claims that Riotsvilles, Cop City and other urban warfare military training keeps our communities safe, these facilities endanger the lives of protesters and anyone else who comes into contact with an increasingly militarized police. On January 18 Atlanta police demonstrated just how effective Riotsville training is when they stormed forest defenders protesting Cop City and killed Manuel Esteban ‘Tortuguita’ Paez Terȧn. Since Tortuguita’s murder more than 29 people defending the Weelaunee Forest have been arrested and charged with “domestic terrorism.”
Closer to home, at the Michigan National Guard’s Camp Grayling, the Riotsville is known as the “Combined Arms and Collective Training Facility” (CACTF). CACTF opened in 2012 at a cost of $14 million to build, it covers 40 acres and includes a cemetery, residential housing, soccer field, embassy, jail and bank. Police departments from across the state train at CACTF. Predictably they talk about using the facility to practice rescuing hostages rather than suppress the right to free speech.
In early 2022, the Michigan National Guard quietly submitted plans to the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to double the size of Camp Grayling, which at 148,000 acres is already the largest National Guard facility in the US.
Opposition to the expansion came from everywhere. Frank Ettawageshik, President of Michigan United Tribes told Interlochen Public Radio that people had expressed concerns about historical and future contamination by toxic ‘forever’ chemicals (PFAS) and the lack of consultation with Indigenous leaders about the proposal. Mainstream environmental groups such as the Sierra Club, Anglers of Au Sable, and Michigan League of Conservation Voters shared statements; more than 50 township and county governments passed resolutions; and a local autonomous movement to Stop Camp Grayling held protests and published a detailed zine providing historical and environment context, in opposition to the expansion
Unlike in Atlanta, Michigan DNR listened, well sort of. In April DNR declined Camp Grayling expansion request, and instead signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Guard that allows for Camp Grayling to apply for permits to use up to 52,000 acres of public land.
Since the announcement opposition has continued to grow. More counties and townships have passed resolutions opposing both the original expansion plan and the MOU, citing lack of research on the effects of electromagnetic warfare training on the environment, insufficient proof that the Guard actually needs any more land, and concerns about the timing and frequency of permits.
We are at another, or possibly the same, crossroads we halted at in 1968. Then we chose the path of policing which we have been paying for ever since, all of us with our dollars, and some of us with our lives. We have an opportunity now to choose a different path. One that is centered on care, community and relationship between humans, animals, water, and land.
Support Forest Defenders in Atlanta by:
Calling on investors in the project to divest from Cop City (list of APF investors). Call on builders of the project to drop their construction contracts.
More information at Stop Cop City Solidarity https://www.stopcopcitysolidarity.org/
Join the movement to Stop the Camp Grayling Expansion by:
Join the Metro Detroit DSA Ecosocialists to help organize and participate in actions to Stop Camp Grayling and Protect our Water.
Watch out for an announcement about the Metro Detroit DSA screening of From Here, and join the conversation about what it means to ‘belong’ and build relationship to place.
The Detroit Socialist is produced and run by members of Detroit DSA’s Newspaper Collective. Interested in becoming a member of Detroit DSA? Go to metrodetroitdsa.com/join to become a member. Send a copy of the dues receipt to: membership@metrodetroitdsa.com in order to get plugged in to our activities!
