Georgia Today: Antisemitism in Atlanta; Stone Mountain Confederate Day; Forsyth County's $1B arena

Peter Biello: Welcome to the Georgia Today podcast from GPB News. Today is Tuesday, April 25. I'm Peter Biello. On today's episode, antisemitic fliers turn up in East Atlanta; Confederate Memorial Day events planned for Stone Mountain come under scrutiny; and Forsyth County as planning to build a new $1 billion arena. These stories and more are coming up on this edition of Georgia Today.

Story 1

Peter Biello: Forsyth County residents are getting their first look today at a plan that includes a $1 billion new arena. The project, called the Gathering at South Forsyth, also promises office, retail, hotel and restaurant space, as well as thousands of jobs. Alex Warner of the local Chamber of Commerce says he believes the project will draw plenty of visitors to Forsyth County.

Alex Warner: Without a doubt, people will come to utilize this arena. I mean, just with the Forsyth County residents alone and how much extracurricular activities they do and they're currently leaving our county to go spend that money, Yes, we anticipate people will come. And then from who travels to come to certain events, at arenas, we can see that draw can come in at way further away than just metro Atlanta.

Peter Biello: News of the project broke last week with reports tying the arena to a bid for a National Hockey League franchise. County commissioners were scheduled to hear today from the project's development team, led by Atlanta area auto dealership owner Vernon Krauss.

Caption

This June 23, 2015 file photo shows a carving depicting Confederate Civil War figures Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis, in Stone Mountain, Ga.

Credit: AP Photo/John Bazemore

Story 2

Peter Biello: Events planned for Confederate Memorial Day at Georgia's Stone Mountain are again drawing criticism and the prospect of opposing demonstrators. Several groups are calling on Gov. Brian Kemp to cancel the event. The NAACP's Gerald Griggs says changes at the park, which is by law a Confederate memorial, aren't happening quickly enough.

Gerald Griggs: Stone Mountain has been dragging its feet. They've been talking about reimagining Stone Mountain. The only thing they did was change the logo. They haven't removed the Confederate flags from the base of the mountain. They have done nothing.

Peter Biello:The Sons of Confederate Veterans will lead the event, which features keynote speaker John Weaver, a member of the Council of Conservative Citizens. That's an organization identified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Story 3

Peter Biello: Gov. Brian Kemp won't address the Georgia Republican Convention this summer. Kemp's aides say he'll focus instead on building his own efforts to energize GOP voters. Atlanta Journal-Constitution political reporter Patricia Murphy told GPB's Political Rewind it's the latest move in a growing rift between the governor and a state party that's becoming increasingly loyal to former President Donald Trump.

Patricia Murphy: Gov. Kemp can raise much more money than the state party. He doesn't need the state party. And at this point, he also doesn't need the headache of showing up to that convention when it's Trump loyalists who are just waiting to scream at him.

Peter Biello: Once a strong supporter of Trump, Kemp is now among party leaders urging the GOP to move on from the former president.

Story 4

Peter Biello: A former top aide for Georgia U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock has been named principal deputy manager for President Joe Biden's reelection campaign. That was announced today. Quintin Fulks of Southwest Georgia's Schley County managed Warnock's successful reelection effort last year.

Caption

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is leading an investigation into attempts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.

Credit: John Bazemore | AP

Story 5

Peter Biello: Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has given a timeline for when she'll be announcing charging decisions stemming from a special grand jury's investigation into interference in Georgia's 2020 election. Willis will announce whether former President Donald Trump and his allies will face criminal charges during the court term that runs from July 11 to September 1st. She revealed the timeline in a letter dated yesterday to the county sheriff because of what she calls the possibility of, quote, "significant public reaction" and the need for, quote, "heightened security and preparedness."

Story 6

Peter Biello: Residents in the east Atlanta neighborhoods of Lake Claire, Candler Park and Kirkwood discovered anti-Semitic and anti-transgender fliers on their sidewalks and driveways seemingly distributed late last Saturday evening. This is not an isolated incident. The group behind these fliers proudly claims it has distributed thousands of pieces of its propaganda throughout Georgia. Atlanta City Council member Liliana Bakhtiari, who represents the area, released a statement yesterday calling the fliers "repugnant." LGBTQ advocacy group Georgia Equality called the flyers "fearmongering rhetoric." A report from the Anti-Defamation League shows a 63% increase in anti-Semitism in Georgia, which became part of the debate over a hate crime bill during the 2023 legislative session. The bill did not pass. Similar antisemitic fliers were distributed in neighborhoods in Sandy Springs and Dunwoody back in February.

Story 7

Peter Biello: Coca-Cola reported a first-quarter profit of more than $3 billion. The Atlanta-based company said net revenues grew 5% to $11 billion between January and March. Earnings per share grew 12% to $0.72. Sparkling soft drinks, including trademark Coca-Cola, grew 3%. Juice, value-added dairy and plant-based beverages were even while water, sports drinks, coffee and tea grew 4%.

Story 8

Peter Biello: In sports: In the NBA, the Hawks face elimination as they play the Boston Celtics tonight in Game 5 of their playoff series. Boston leads the series 3 to 1. Atlanta will play without Dejounte Murray, who is serving a one-game suspension without pay for making inappropriate contact with an official and for verbal abuse during the Hawks 129 to 101 loss in Game 4. And in baseball, Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider held the Miami Marlins scoreless through eight innings last night as the Braves snapped their four-game losing streak, winning 11 to nothing. Strider stretched a perfect game into the seventh inning, which ended with an error by Braves first baseman Matt Olson. The no hitter continued into the eighth and ended with the base hit by Miami's Jean Segura. Strider says Seager is a really good out-of-the-zone hitter.

Spencer Strider: So you don't really know where to throw it to him. I probably should have thrown it over the backstop. Maybe he couldn't reach that. I don't know.

Peter Biello: In all, Strider racked up 13 strikeouts. After the game, Braves manager Brian Snitker sang his praises.

Brian Snitker: I have so much respect for the young man, just how consistent is and professional and the work ethic and the whole thing, the consistency in what he does is — it's special, is what he does on the mound, I think.

Peter Biello: Braves batters hit five home runs including two from center fielder Sam Hilliard. The Braves face the Marlins at home again tonight.

And that's a wrap on today's edition of Georgia Today. But we do appreciate you tuning in. We hope that you will subscribe to this podcast. That way we will be there fresh on your podcast feed tomorrow afternoon. If you'd like to learn more about any of the stories on this podcast today or find the latest, you can go to GPB.org/news. And if you've got feedback or a story suggestion, we'd love to hear it. Email us at GeorgiaToday@GPB.org. I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.

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