Updates

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~posted on Instagram ~ With a shameful backlog of cases awaiting trial–resulting in folks waiting years, in jail, for resolution to their charges–and despite claims of insufficient resources, the Buncombe County District Attorney’s office is still taking four local mutual aid organizers all the way to trial on “felony littering” charges. Trial is scheduled to begin April 10. The… Continue reading Update and Phone Zap

Much more to come on that, but during our court date on February 20, motions to continue were granted, and the date for the five defendants being taken to trial is now April 10.

“City draws fire for its treatment of unhoused population and arrest of journalists attempting to cover police sweep of Aston Park“ Read this piece by Kelan Lyons of NC Policy Watch, via AVL Watchdog

Read at Mountain Xpress BY PIP FLICKINGER On Christmas Day 2021, the Asheville Police Department shut down an event in Aston Park. The resulting arrests, which have led to multiple ongoing, high-profile legal cases, have highlighted a troubling dynamic in the APD’s dealings with homeless individuals, advocates, volunteers and the media in recent years. As… Continue reading Moutain Xpress: Whose Space is Public Space?

Reporting by Charles Perez for WLOS. Read or watch the story here: https://wlos.com/news/local/trial-date-set-in-aston-park-felony-littering-case

(WLOS is a Sinclair station!!) Read/watch the full story here: https://wlos.com/news/local/aclu-north-carolina-supports-16-defendants-aston-park-felony-littering-case-banned-from-asheville-city-parks

This article is related to our prosecution, though the journalists arrested on Christmas night 2021 are not among the defendants charged with felony littering or banned from parks. “The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina, Freedom of the Press Foundation and Committee to Protect Journalists have petitioned the Buncombe County Superior Court for release… Continue reading Citizen-Times: ACLU of NC, press advocates petition to release Asheville police reporter arrests bodycam

Five people charged by the Asheville Police Department with felony littering will see their cases go to trial in Buncombe County Superior Court. The felony littering charges followed December 2021 protests at Aston Park, and various North Carolina attorneys have called the charges “rare” and “unusual.” “I’m having a hard time understanding why we’ve even… Continue reading Citizen-Times: 5 felony littering cases will go to trial in Asheville; defendants express ‘dismay’

“The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina sent a letter Jan. 19 to several members of Asheville leadership challenging a park ban policy that restricted 14 individuals’ access to city parks, according to an ACLU news release obtained by the Citizen Times. “Felony littering is an extremely rare charge, and several of those charged… Continue reading Citizen-Times: ACLU of NC challenges Asheville’s park bans against felony littering defendants