Local activist and musician Samuel Tunick was arrested by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FBI as part of what advocates call a wave of repression against political dissent across the U.S.

On Dec. 2, Tunick was arrested after being pulled over in Atlanta and asked to step out of the car to observe an issue with a taillight on his car. According to advocates for Tunick, he was then suddenly handcuffed and surrounded by the FBI and DHS.

Tunick was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at an airport while returning from an international trip in January and federal agents attempted to coerce him into providing full access to his phone. Information has not been shared publicly or with Rough Draft as to the specific airport in which Tunick was detained; updates will come as they are available.

During his first court appearance on Dec. 4 after one night in jail, Tunick was informed that he had been indicted by a grand jury on Nov. 13, following his detainment in January. The charge was for one count of destruction of evidence for allegedly destroying evidence on his phone, though the prosecution allegedly did not clarify what evidence they were looking for. The warrant for Tunick’s arrest was also issued on Nov. 13.

Tunick was a protestor with the Stop Cop City movement against the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, a $118 million 85-acre police training facility in the South River Forest. Kamau Franklin, the director of Community Movement Builders, called the arrest “totally baseless” and evidence of the Trump administration’s scapegoating of legitimate protestors.

“The Trump administration is using political prosecution to distract from the growing unpopularity in the polls, defections within the GOP, and a persistent high cost of living,” he said.

“The ongoing harassment of local activists reflects the state’s struggle to convict Stop Cop City protestors,” local activist Evan Grace said in a statement. “Tunick’s situation reveals the apparent desperation and technical inadequacy of the FBI, perceived by many as a tool of the far-right agenda. This prosecution poses a significant threat not just to Tunick, but to the broader rights of individuals to use digital security tools essential for safeguarding democratic freedoms.”

In September 2023, 61 Stop Cop City activists were charged with coordination of violence, intimidation, and property destruction. These Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) charges were dismissed in September of this year by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kevin Farmer, who said they could not proceed because the proper authorization steps were not followed. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr’s office called the protestors in a statement “domestic terrorists and violent criminals.”  

The case has been referred to by experts as the largest racketeering prosecution ever brought against protestors in U.S. history. Atlanta’s police training center opened earlier this year after years of protests, delays, and the death of a protestor by police.

As a condition of his bond, Tunick will be subjected to random visits from a parole officer and regular drug tests. A GiveSendGo account has been set up to help Tunick pay legal bills.

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Editor’s note: Language surrounding Tunick’s indictment has been edited to clarify that he was indicted on Nov. 13, not Dec. 4.

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In a Facebook post on Dec. 2, Dean urged the LGBTQ+ community to support the club amid what he described as a lack of support from the City of Atlanta for Lore and other Edgewood establishments like Pisces, Sister Louisa’s, and Joystick.

“We do not live in a city that is friendly to small businesses, and especially nightlife,” he wrote. “The City of Atlanta and the Mayor’s nightlife division has all but abandoned Edgewood and scapegoated the bars for all of the problems that persist outside our doors, down the street, after operating hours. Instead of working with us on solutions to improve our historic neighborhood, we have been harassed and ignored at every turn.”

Related story: Lore brings unpretentious queer fun to Edgewood Avenue

The City did not respond to Georgia Voice’s request for comment.

Dean cited “disheartening” feedback from friends and colleagues about the lack of parking, the prices, and, from gay men, the amount of women in the club, and said there is plenty of free street parking and a “wide range” of drink prices. He added that LORE is “never going to be” the bar to cater to only one type of queer clientele.

“I understand that many of us are struggling financially right now and aren’t in a place to support ANY nightlife,” he said. “But for those who can afford to go out once or twice a week, please please consider stopping by LORE… Peoples [sic] perception of how well a project or venue is doing does not always match reality. We have so much programming and exciting events going on to draw people in, but we NEED more regulars.”

Nightlife has played a critical role in LGBTQ+ history, serving as safe spaces for the community when it was more dangerous to be openly queer in public. Atlanta, however, has lost many of its historic spaces over the years, like Backstreet and Hoedowns. And with only a few remaining – most of which specifically cater to gay men – Dean says the queer space Lore creates is critical.

“Queer bars should be for everyone! We love being a place where different people can gather, party and build community together,” he said. “…We are not perfect and still have a lot of work to do, but we made a lot of sacrifices to create a Queer space that was uncompromising in values and vision. Even if we crash and burn, I do not regret fighting for this.”

Dean urges patrons to share their feedback and help Lore grow by taking a customer satisfaction survey. Take the survey here. To learn more about Lore and buy tickets to upcoming events, visit loreatl.com.

Related story: Queer Atlantans are fostering alternative nightlife with DIY parties, raves, and events

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A statement from the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management (DWM) said the letters were an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirement, and service lines are lead-free.

DWM recently sent letters to property owners informing them that the material of the water service line to their properties had “yet to be determined,” classifying them as “Lead Status Unknown.”

While these letters said “all or a portion of the service line may be made of lead” and detailed how to reduce lead exposure in drinking water, the Dec. 3 press release said these letters were just “a regulatory requirement for many utilities.”  

“DWM has collected hundreds of samples to maintain compliance and has not found a single lead service line,” the release said. “However, until the sample size and certification technique meet EPA’s requirement to verify that the City does not have lead service lines, DWM must notify customers.”

The department is continuing service line identification and replacement, and if any line is found to contain lead, they will alert the customer with a separate notice with information about replacement and financing opportunities.

These notifications come as part of an EPA mandate requiring all US water systems to identify and replace lead pipes by October 2034. The EPA announced last month that $3 billion in new funding would be provided to states to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water.

Customers are encouraged to aid in the verification of customer-owned portions of the line by visiting epa.gov/protectyourtap for instructions on identifying service line material.

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Macon Pride, Reach to Impact Group, and The Tubman Museum are commemorating World AIDS Day through the annual art exhibition, “Red Reminds Me.”

The showcase, which will be on exhibit at the Tubman African American Museum in Macon, GA, from Dec. 4 to Jan. 4, explores the emotions the color red evokes and celebrates local artists Kevin Lewis, Rudy and Carolyn Mendes, Dorrin Gingerich, Eric Hart Jr., and Leah Duval.

Featured pieces memorialize those impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic and expand to broader social justice themes like racial discrimination, poverty, and patriotism.

The exhibition opens with a reception on Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. The free event will include art, community health resources, free HIV testing, and more.

The month-long exhibition coincides with World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, a global commemoration of those whose lives have been affected by HIV and AIDS and the work being done to end new HIV diagnoses by 2030. Georgia is currently the leader of the country in new HIV diagnoses.

Related Stories
• White House halts World AIDS Day recognition amid HIV funding cuts
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During the Dec. 1 Atlanta City Council meeting, family and friends of Linton Blackwell spoke during public comment to demand accountability and answers nearly two months after his fatal shooting by an off-duty Atlanta Police officer.

Blackwell, known in Atlanta’s music community as B-Green, was shot by Gerald Walker on Oct. 11 outside of a Buckhead bar.

Timothy Coleman, Blackwell’s manager and friend, told 11 Alive that there was an altercation inside 5 Paces Inn before Blackwell was escorted out, but then Walker – who was working an extra job as security – “ensued, chased him down, and gunned him down.”

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation alleges that Walker observed Blackwell enter his car in the parking lot behind the bar, grab something resembling a firearm, and put it in his waistband at the small of his back. The GBI says the officer gave commands related to the gun before opening fire, but Coleman and Blackwell’s other loved ones argue that the 17 shots in his back are evidence that he “wasn’t a threat” since he was facing away from Walker.

Now, Blackwell’s friends and family are demanding a full release of body cam footage, the officer’s complaint and disciplinary history, clear communication with his family, and reform to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

While the Atlanta Police Department is conducting an internal investigation, Blackwell’s loved ones also insist on an independent investigation by an outside agency.

“If the shooting was justified, prove it,” Darius Blackwell, Linton’s cousin, said during public comment on Monday. “If it was not, be honest about it.”

Some speakers during the city council meeting demanded Walker be “locked up.” Others argued that Blackwell’s death is further evidence of Atlanta’s “police violence problem.”

“If somebody did to my dad or my mom or my brother what was done to Linton Blackwell, Alexia Christian, Jimmy Atchison, Jayvis Benjamin, Anthony Hill, Shali Tilson, Rayshard Brooks, Devon Anderson,” Maisie Thompson, a local artist, said, “I could light this city on fire and not feel a thing.”

Blackwell is survived by his 15-year-old twin daughters, Destiny and Dynasty. Erika Bouttry, his daughters’ mother, alleged during public comment that Walker had a “violent history.” Records obtained by Capital B Atlanta show seven work rule violations filed against Walker. He is in a probationary period in connection to four active complaints, three of which relate to APD’s standard operating procedures around body cameras and one relating to standard arrest procedures.

“I’m here because my daughters deserve a city that acknowledges what happened to their father,” Bouttry said.

The GBI investigation is ongoing. The case will be turned over to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office once the agency completes its findings, which will then determine whether the case is presented to a grand jury.

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• Atlanta City Council approves affordable housing, infrastructure legislation at final 2025 meeting

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