Listen Now: We Came to the Forest

Summary

American History Tellers: "We Came to the Forest" Summary

Podcast Information:

• Title: American History Tellers
• Host/Author: Wondery
• Episode Title: We Came to the Forest
• Release Date: January 28, 2025
• Description: American History Tellers delves into pivotal moments in American history, uncovering the events, people, and decisions that have shaped the nation. Hosted by Lindsay Graham, the podcast explores complex narratives from the Cold War to the Space Race, revealing how historical events influence contemporary life.

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Episode Overview: "We Came to the Forest"

Introduction In the premiere episode, "We Came to the Forest," host Matthew Scher investigates a mysterious and tragic confrontation between environmental activists and law enforcement in an Atlanta forest. This episode sets the stage for a gripping narrative that explores themes of activism, justice, and governmental transparency.

Setting the Scene The episode opens with Matthew Scher introducing the central event: a deadly clash in an Atlanta forest involving activists protesting the construction of a major police training facility.

• Matthew Scher [00:00]: “In the depths of an Atlanta forest, a clash between activists and authorities ended in tragedy. But the official narrative doesn't add up.”

Vienna Forrest’s Story The narrative shifts to Vienna Forrest, an activist whose personal life becomes entwined with the larger conflict.

• Narrator [01:06]: “On a chilly evening in January, an activist named Vienna Forrest goes on a date with her partner in Atlanta.”

Vienna describes her tumultuous month and her relationship dynamics, highlighting her vulnerability and the support she finds in her partner, Tortuguita.

• Vienna Forrest [01:36]: “And we went to get Vietnamese and Mexican food, just got a whole buffet and Tortequito's like at their peak. They were so happy they quit cigarettes. They were just really doing good.”

A Night at the Starlight Drive-In Vienna and Tortuguita's evening at the iconic Starlight Drive-In sets a poignant backdrop, emphasizing their closeness and the simplicity of their relationship amidst personal struggles.

• Vienna Forrest [02:10]: “Me and Tort save on tickets, hid under a blanket and the person manning the gate caught us. They're like, next time tell your friends to hide their legs better because Torte's legs were sticking out from under the blanket. But they let us go through.”

The couple's interaction during the movie underscores their deep bond and the comfort they find in each other during challenging times.

• Vienna Forrest [03:02]: “Watching them, they seem like they didn't have a care in the world. Or at least they didn't show it. They had this sort of resolve about things and they just. It seemed like they were just ready for whatever was to come.”

The Confrontation in the Forest Approximately 36 hours after the drive-in date, a joint task force deploys to the forest to dismantle the activist camp opposing the new police training facility. Tensions are high as officers anticipate potential dangers, including booby traps.

• Narrator [03:23]: “A joint task force of law enforcement officers sweeps through a forest a few miles to the southeast. ... These officers are nervous. They've been warned in a briefing about the possibility of booby traps and even improvised explosive devices.”

As the operation unfolds, a sudden escalation leads to gunfire, marking the beginning of a tragic and contentious incident.

• Vienna Forrest [04:16]: “Sir, quick question. Can you get the fuck out, please?”
• Narrator [04:22]: “There's some more laughter and then everything just kind of shatters open.”

The situation rapidly deteriorates as officers and activists confront each other, culminating in violence that leaves an activist dead and raises questions about the official account of the events.

• Vienna Forrest [04:30]: “Oh, shit. Is this target purpose?”
• Vienna Forrest [05:11]: “That sounded like suppressed gun violence.”

Investigative Angle Matthew Scher promises an in-depth exploration of the incident, highlighting discrepancies in testimonies, missing evidence, and potential cover-ups involving high-level law enforcement officials. The episode aims to uncover the "hidden truths" behind the official narrative, offering listeners exclusive recordings and eyewitness accounts.

• Matthew Scher [05:16]: “This is episode one, Paradise Found.”

Themes and Insights "We Came to the Forest" delves into the complexities of activism against governmental projects, the psychological and emotional toll on individuals like Vienna Forrest, and the broader implications for justice and transparency in law enforcement actions. The episode raises critical questions about:

• Justice and Accountability: How transparent are authorities in recounting such tragic events?
• Activism and Governmental Power: What motivates activists to confront powerful governmental agendas, and how do authorities respond?
• Personal Impact: The profound effects on individuals and communities involved in such high-stakes confrontations.

Conclusion While the transcript provided covers only the initial segments of the episode, "We Came to the Forest" sets up a compelling investigation into a pivotal event in contemporary American history. Listeners are invited to follow Vienna Forrest's story and the ensuing investigation that challenges their understanding of justice and activism in America.

For a comprehensive experience, listeners are encouraged to subscribe to American History Tellers on the Wondery App or their preferred podcast platform, and consider joining Wondery+ for ad-free access and exclusive content.

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Notable Quotes:

• Matthew Scher [00:00]: “In the depths of an Atlanta forest, a clash between activists and authorities ended in tragedy. But the official narrative doesn't add up.”

• Vienna Forrest [01:36]: “Tortequito's like at their peak. They were so happy they quit cigarettes. They were just really doing good.”

• Vienna Forrest [03:02]: “They had this sort of resolve about things and they just. It seemed like they were just ready for whatever was to come.”

• Vienna Forrest [04:16]: “Sir, quick question. Can you get the fuck out, please?”

• Vienna Forrest [05:11]: “That sounded like suppressed gun violence.”

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Listen to "We Came to the Forest" here on the Wondery App or your preferred podcast platform to delve deeper into this riveting investigation.

Transcript

[Matthew Scher]

In the depths of an Atlanta forest, a clash between activists and authorities ended in tragedy. But the official narrative doesn't add up. We Came to the Forest is a new investigative podcast from Wondery Campsite Media and Tenderfoot tv. It peels back the layers of secrecy surrounding a deadly confrontation that shook a community to its core. Through exclusive recordings and never before release eyewitness accounts, host Matthew Scher exposes the hidden truths behind a nighttime shootout that left one activist dead and countless lives forever changed by a web of conflicting testimonies, missing evidence and allegations of a cover up. Reaching the highest levels of law enforcement. From the idealistic dreams of young environmentalists to the complex motivations of local officials, this story challenges our understanding of justice, activism and the lengths people will go to to protect what they believe in. What actually happened in the forest? You're about to hear a clip from We Came to the Forest Follow We Came to the Forest on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Narrator]

Campsite Media On a chilly evening in January, an activist named Vienna Forrest goes on a date with her partner in Atlanta. It's been a long, rough month for Vienna, the longest in some ways she can remember, and she spent much of it lying low, crashing on the floor at a friend's house. Her partner, who goes by Tortuguita, that's little turtle in Spanish, has decided that it's time for her to get out of the house.

[Vienna Forrest]

And we went to get Vietnamese and Mexican food, just got a whole buffet and Tortequito's like at their peak. They were so happy they quit cigarettes. They were just really doing good.

[Narrator]

A couple hours later, Vienna and Torte pack into a sedan along with two other friends and drive across town to a movie theater called the Starlight. The Starlight's pretty famous in Atlanta. It's one of the last real drive ins in the country. Still has that old school neon sign out front.

[Vienna Forrest]

Me and Tort save on tickets, hid under a blanket and the person manning the gate caught us. They're like, next time tell your friends to hide their legs better because Torte's legs were sticking out from under the blanket. But they let us go through.

[Narrator]

The couple stays there together, curled up in the backseat, hands laced together in the dark. Even as the movie gets underway, they.

[Vienna Forrest]

Were always just like someone I felt comfortable with. They were I'm feeling bad, I can lay my head on their chest and they'd comfort me.

[Narrator]

The film that night at the Starlight is Megan, the one about the overprotective, malignant doll.

[Vienna Forrest]

The modern day Chucky, if you will. Took a while for me to remember what the movie was because I wasn't paying attention to the movie so much, but yeah.

[Narrator]

As the movie winds down, Vienna turns to her partner.

[Vienna Forrest]

Watching them, they seem like they didn't have a care in the world. Or at least they didn't show it. They had this sort of resolve about things and they just. It seemed like they were just ready for whatever was to come.

[Narrator]

About 36 hours after the date at the drive in, in an event that will permanently, violently alter the trajectory of Vienna's life, a joint task force of law enforcement officers sweeps through a forest a few miles to the southeast. This task force, made up of dozens of officers from several different agencies, has been assigned to clear the woods of activists who are camping there in an attempt to stop the construction of the largest police training facility in the country. These officers are nervous. They've been warned in a briefing about the possibility of booby traps and even improvised explosive devices. But they're doing their best not to let it show. As they press forward, packing up vacant tents with knives, they joke about what they'll say if they happen to find one occupied.

[Vienna Forrest]

Sir, quick question. Can you get the fuck out, please?

[Narrator]

There's some more laughter and then everything just kind of shatters open.

[Vienna Forrest]

Oh, shit. Is this target purpose?

[Narrator]

Surprised, unnerved, the officers tense up, drop their hands to their sidearms. The mood now is adrenalized. Sharp edged, the squadron of cops begin to move towards the sound of the gunfire. A very faint transmission comes over the radio from just across the forest. Man.

[Vienna Forrest]

That sounded like suppressed gun violence.

[Narrator]

From Wondery Campside Media and Tenderfoot tv. Hi, I'm Matthew Sher and this is We Came to the Forest. This is episode one, Paradise Found. Foreign.

[Matthew Scher]

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