PHOTOS: Training center referendum organizers submit 116K signatures

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PHOTOS: Training center referendum organizers submit 116K signatures

Atlanta city officials say a legal decision prevents them from validating signatures collected after the original deadline.

Opponents of Atlanta’s planned public safety training chants as they carry the boxes with their petition with 100,000 signatures to the Atlanta City of Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 10, 2023. The intention is to put the issue of the training center on the ballot.
Miguel Martinez /miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

Mary Hooks of the Movement for Black Lives National Field Secretary speaks during a press conference outside the City Hall; opponents of Atlanta’s planned public safety training center intended to present their petition with 100,000 signatures to Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 10, 2023.
Miguel Martinez /miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

Forest defenders bring the sixteen boxes containing more than 100,000 signatures from a petition through security at the Atlanta City Hall. The intention is to put the issue of the training center on the ballot on Monday, Sept. 10, 2023. Miguel Martinez /miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

Kurt Kastorf, a legal counsel of the opponents of Atlanta’s planned public safety training center, speaks during a press conference outside Atlanta City Hall on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Many organizations aligned with the forest defenders intended to present their petition with 100,000 signatures to Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 10, 2023.Miguel Martinez /miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

Forest defendant protesters gather outside during a press conference where they speak about submitting a petition containing 100,000 signatures to the city of Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 10, 2023. Their goal is to have the matter of the training center included on the ballot for public consideration.
Miguel Martinez /miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

Opponents of Atlanta’s planned public safety training center legal counsel gather by the Atlanta City Hall Clerk’s office as they ready to deliver sixteen boxes with the petition, their goal is to have the matter of the training center included on the ballot for public consideration.
Miguel Martinez /miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

A worker of the Atlanta City Hall Clerk’s office sealed one of the boxes containing over 100,000 signatures with the petition from the forest defenders; their goal is to have the matter of the training center included on the ballot for public consideration.
Miguel Martinez /miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

A member of the public speaks during a hearing after the opponents of Atlanta’s planned public safety training center delivered their petition with 100,000 signatures on Monday, Sept. 10, 2023.
Miguel Martinez /miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

Council members Antonio Lewis and Michale Julian Bond listen to a public member during a hearing after the opponents of Atlanta’s planned public safety training center delivered their petition with 100,000 signatures on Monday, Sept. 10, 2023.
Miguel Martinez /miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

Atlanta Police agents walk in front of the group of opponents of Atlanta’s planned public safety training that started gathering out side of the City Hall where they will present their petition with 100,000 signatures to the city of Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 10, 2023.
Miguel Martinez /miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

Opponents of Atlanta’s planned public safety training started gather out side of the City Hall where they will present their petition with 100,000 signatures to the city of Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 10, 2023.
Miguel Martinez /miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

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Credit: Miguel Martinez

Opponents of Atlanta’s planned public safety training chants as they carry the boxes with their petition with 100,000 signatures to the Atlanta City of Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 10, 2023. The intention is to put the issue of the training center on the ballot. Miguel Martinez /miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com