Protesters arrested outside refrigerant company in Smyrna, police release mug shots

SMYRNA, Ga. - A group of protesters and activists staged a protest early Thursday morning outside Hudson Technologies in Smyrna. One of the protesters "locked" themselves to a car that was placed across the only access road to the facility.

According to a press release sent to FOX 5 Atlanta, the protest is in response to Hudson Technologies connections to the Israeli military.

The protest blocked access to the facility and disrupted the surrounding area.

Activists claim that Hudson Technologies signed a $250 million contract in 2021 to supply Israeli military with industrial gas and other materials. The activists want Hudson Technologies to cancel the contract.

However, protesters were also seen carrying signs that say "Stop Cop City." Cop City refers to the controversial Atlanta Public Safety Training Center that is being built in DeKalb County and has been the focus of numerous protests the last two years. 

The activists say they chose to protest Thursday because of the presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden that is taking place in Atlanta late Thursday evening.

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Cobb County Police say when they arrived at the scene, they found 21-year-old Rosemary Cochran with her hand cemented inside a vehicle. 

Cobb County Fire and EMS were able to free Cochran and Cochran and five other people were placed under arrest.

The police department says that while they respect the right to peaceful protests and the right to express views on issues, protests cannot obstruct public roads or involve self-harm.

Cochran has been charged with loitering and prowling, obstruction, pedestrian in the roadway, impeding the flow of traffic, and improper stopping in the roadway. The other five individuals, Zachary Kerr (32, Atlanta), Alexandra Husted (33, Atlanta), Parker Demos (23, Atlanta), Daniel Hanley (42, Sandy Springs), and Zoe Fitzgerald (21, Decatur), have been charged with loitering & prowling and improperly stopping in the roadway. 

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According to Hudson Technologies' website, they provide refrigerant and industrial gas and services to reduce greenhouse emissions, increase energy efficiency, and promote sustainability to encourage understanding and ensure future generations inherit a healthy planet.  

They sent the following statement to FOX 5 Atlanta: 

Hudson Technologies, Inc and Hudson Technologies company operate only in the United States and neither entity supports any foreign operations. We believe any demonstrators have mistaken our name with another entity. 

Our mission is committed to providing products and services that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, and promote sustainability to encourage understanding and ensure future generations inherit a healthy planet. We support the transition to climate-friendly technology and gases through our focus on environmentally sustainable solutions, making Hudson your leading supplier for your HVACR needs. 

If anyone has any further concerns regarding our business model of recycling refrigerants within the United States, then they are welcome to call or review our public media pages.

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