An attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) as among the 23 people arrested for domestic terrorism for an attack at the site of a future Atlanta police training location.
Thomas Jurgens, 28, was arrested along with 22 other people in a protest that included Molotov cocktails, fireworks and other acts of violence last weekend.
Attorney at Southern Poverty Law Center among 23 people arrested for domestic terrorism https://t.co/RDQlTAfyhR
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) March 7, 2023
The Georgia Department of Public Safety said some of the protesters tried to blind officers through the use of green lasers, according to the Blaze.
"This was a very violent attack, very violent attack," said Schierbaum. "This wasn't about a public safety training center. This was about anarchy, and this was about the attempt to destabilize, and we are addressing that quickly."
Law enforcement detained at least 35 demonstrators in Atlanta on Sunday, including an SPLC employee who was arrested while acting — and identifying — as a legal observer on behalf of @NLGnews #StopCopCity
— Southern Poverty Law Center (@splcenter) March 6, 2023
The SPLC released a statement calling the arrested attorney a legal observer at the site.
"This is part of a months-long escalation of policing tactics against protesters and observers who oppose the destruction of the Weelaunee Forest to build a police training facility," the group tweeted.
"The SPLC will continue to urge de-escalation of violence and police use of force against Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities — working in partnership to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements and advance the human rights of all people," it added.
In addition, just two of the 23 charged with domestic terrorism were from the state of Georgia, including some individuals from other countries.
The concerning twist is leading to further investigation over who is behind the violent activism and why the individuals traveled from across the country and world to participate.
The attorney's arrest is likely to continue to generate controversy as the investigation seeks more details in the latest attacks against law enforcement.
