It Could Happen Here Requiem for Stop Cop City
Nov 24, 2025
Exploring the trajectory of the Stop Cop City movement, discussions highlight early sabotage and militant actions. The killing of Tortuguita marked a pivotal shift, ending forest occupations. Legal pressures intensified with a significant RICO indictment and heightened surveillance, creating a chilling effect on activists. The podcast delves into strategic lessons learned, emphasizing the need for adaptation in response to state repression. Overall, it reflects on the movement's legacy and encourages future generations to learn from these intense struggles.
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Movement Phases Shaped Outcomes
- The Stop Cop City movement evolved through discrete phases from occupation to repression, shaping both tactics and outcomes.
- Garrison Davis argues those phases explain momentum shifts and the state's eventual advantage.
Forest Occupation Caused Police Paralysis
- Early occupation and sabotage in 2021 created paralysis and fear among police, slowing construction.
- Organizers recall tree spiking, encampments, and subcontractor pressure campaigns that stalled progress.
Raids Ended Occupation Momentum
- May 2022 raids marked a turning point when police ended their paralysis and escalated tactics.
- The killing of Tortuguita during a January 2023 raid ended continuous occupation and intensified conflict.
