Atlanta activists launch “Sanctuary Zones” to shield neighborhoods from ICE and police
Community organizers in Atlanta have created a network of “Sanctuary Zones” that refuse cooperation with ICE and law-enforcement, aiming to protect residents amid rising federal raids and police presence.
After the Stop Cop City struggle, Atlanta activists shifted from street protests to building everyday community safety through a “Sanctuary Zones” program. Organizer Bassey Etuk, together with the ATL Get Ready Team and partners like the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights, have enlisted bars, restaurants, churches and other venues to refuse entry to ICE and police, offering an alternative network of protection. The movement draws on lessons from recent federal raids in Minneapolis and National Guard deployments in Memphis and Washington, D.C., and seeks to unite Black, migrant and queer-led groups around a shared anti-criminalization agenda.
More than 70 locations now display Sanctuary Zone signage, while weekly meetings provide training on first-response, legal rights and non-violent conflict resolution. Organizers also run scenario exercises ahead of the World Cup to prepare for heightened security measures. The campaign frames ICE and local police as parts of the same state-control apparatus and promotes community-run safety as a way to reduce reliance on law-enforcement.
Why it matters
It shows how grassroots groups are creating alternatives to policing and immigration enforcement in a climate of expanding federal raids.
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