Protestors from across metro Atlanta unite to call for shutdown of BioLab in Rockdale County

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–Citizens and groups from Rockdale, DeKalb, Newton, Gwinnett, and Fulton counties gathered on Saturday, Oct. 19, calling for the shutdown of the BioLab plant in Conyers. 

The 3 p.m. protest was held outside of the Rockdale Auditorium at 901 Main St. Just two days earlier, Rockdale government officials announced the county was lifting the shelter-in-place order for the entire county and transitioning the remainder of the cleanup to BioLab and the company’s contractors.  Students are scheduled to return to classes on Monday, Oct. 21. 

At the rally, protestors shared how the Sept. 29 BioLab chemical explosion has impacted their health and businesses, with evacuations, shelter-in-place orders and disruption of their lives.

“We are here for one purpose and that purpose is to shut down BioLab,” said Iffat Walker, a Rockdale activist. “BioLab’s negligence has caused an avoidable disaster and has created ripple effect poisoning each and every one of our communities. It’s poisoning our mothers, poisoning our children poisoning our soil, our water, poisoning our crops, forcing shutdowns, denying our children access to safe educational facilities, poisoning our dogs and cats, cattle and horses, evacuating our hospitals, denying our sick access to care, forcing shutdowns, forcing and holding our neighboring businesses hostage through intimidation tactics and bullying behavior, using our elected officials to send their messages, playing hooky when called to the carpet. We won’t stand for it any longer. ..”

The 3 p.m. protest was held outside of the Rockdale Auditorium at 901 Main St. Just two days earlier, Rockdale County government officials’ announced that it was immediately lifting the shelter-in-place order for the entire county and transitioning the remainder of the cleanup to BioLab and the company’s contractors.  

Larry Cox blasted BioLab, saying that he wasn’t allowed to immediately enter his business, even after county officials lifted the shelter-in-place. 

Video by Glenn L. Morgan/ocgnews.com: