Southern Center for Human Rights Statement on the Killing of Manuel Terán

Manuel Esteban Paez Terán, otherwise known as Tortugita, should be alive today. 

On Wednesday, January 18th, they were taken from the family, allies, and communities who loved them. They were taken from a community that for nearly two years has been voicing its fears and concerns with the Atlanta Police Department’s proposed Public Safety Training Facility in the historic Weelaunee Forest, through hours of public comment before elected officials, canvassing and cross-coalitional solidarity building and education, and the passive occupation of those same sacred forest grounds.  

At the Southern Center for Human Rights, we oppose state violence in every single one of its many insidious forms. We mourn the death of Tortugita, and remain in strong solidarity with all people standing against state violence.