Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) reaffirmed his support for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center in Georgia during his State of the State address, even as opponents continue to stop the facility they have dubbed “Cop City” from being built.

Kemp, speaking before a joint session of the Georgia General Assembly on Thursday, expressed how “safety and security” have been a “top priority” for him since he took office and thanked Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and other officials for working with him to combat crime.

“While the mayor and I come from different political parties and don’t agree on everything, we do agree on the importance of reducing crime and keeping our citizens safe,” Kemp said. “Bipartisan majorities of both chambers, the mayor, and myself all agree on the critical need for the completion of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center.”

“This facility will provide our law enforcement officers, firefighters and additional first responders the critical tools, knowledge, and skills needed to keep themselves and our communities safe,” he added.

Kemp highlighted some of the law enforcement guests he invited to his address, including a police officer who was shot and severely wounded by an activist who opposed the facility. The activist was fatally killed in the subsequent exchange of gunfire, and a court ruled the use of force by the officer who shot the activist was “objectively reasonable.”

The proposed facility has been the subject of several peaceful and violent protests, with Kemp calling a 15-day state of emergency and activating 1,000 National Guard troops over protests in January 2023.

“As long as I’m your governor, there will be no gray area or political double talk: We support our law enforcement officers. We support our firefighters and first responders. And the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center needs to be built, period,” Kemp said.

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The protests surrounding the facility have led to several criminal charges against activists. In September 2023, 61 people were indicted on racketeering charges related to alleged criminal actions trying to prevent the training center from being built.

Activists have launched a petition to get a vote on the fate of the training facility on the ballot. The facility is expected to be completed by late 2024.