Updates

Residents exercising First Amendment rights unjustly banned from city parks after participation in peaceful demonstration FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 20, 2023 Contact: Keisha Williams, kmwilliams@acluofnc.org, (984) 884-7991 RALEIGH – The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina today sent a letter Thursday to the City of Asheville’s Director of Parks and Recreation, City Manager, City… Continue reading ACLU of North Carolina Challenges City of Asheville’s Park Ban Policy as a Violation of Constitutional Rights

On Wednesday, January 11th, 2023, Asheville Police Department (APD) issued a widely circulated press release stating that 120,000 lbs of “trash” were removed from two “vacant” homeless encampments in West Asheville.  We believe that this press release is part of an ongoing misinformation campaign by the City of Asheville to justify evicting encampments, fracturing communities… Continue reading Statement: Response to APD’s January 11th Press Release

Hi! It’s been a while since we’ve posted a statement. Here’s an account of what’s happened so far, with a few updates. Expect more to come soon! One year ago local activists held a multi-day community event in a local park, Aston Park, to raise awareness of homeless camp evictions. On December 25, 2021 police… Continue reading Statement: legal process update

 Sarah Honosky writes: “All 16 people charged by the Asheville Police Department with felony littering have been indicted by a Buncombe County grand jury, moving a case North Carolina attorneys have called “rare” and “unusual” to Buncombe County Superior Court.  Pip Flickinger and other defendants are charged following December protests calling for sanctuary camping at Aston… Continue reading Citizen-Times: “Grand jury indicts 16 people charged with felony littering in Asheville’s Aston Park”

Jason Sanford writes: “This is the story of how a city lost compassion for its people.“ “The felony charges, which Asheville police have rarely ever used, have shocked and scared those who stand accused. And that’s clearly the point. There’s rarely been a more clearcut case of local police intimidation. The felony littering arrests marked a boiling point… Continue reading Ashvegas: “As it pursues bogus littering charges against citizens, Asheville trashes ideal of compassionate city”

Defendants’ statement issued June 6 (view on instagram) On June 3, Asheville Police Department issued a press release “updating” the public about this case, and sharing the legal names and dates of birth of 10 more defendants. Gross! And wow, y’all, our community did not stand for it. You stood up for us. You noticed that they… Continue reading Statement: APD doxxed more of us and keeps sweeping camps

“When you have laws that don’t get enforced in a while, and seem to be aimed at some other problem being used against protesters, then that always raises a concern,” [professor of First Amendment and freedom of speech at Elon University School of Law] Armijo said.  Yep! Here’s a thoroughly-reported article from the Citizen-Times.

From the Asheville Free Press: “All appeals have been denied for the Aston Park Defendants banned from all Parks and Recreation Facilities after a protest which occurred in December 2021. The defendants have been banned for three years under an Asheville City Administrative Policy on Restricted Access Notices, which allows Asheville Police Department to issue the… Continue reading AFP: The City of Asheville Denies All Park Ban Appeals for Aston Park Defendants

From the Asheville Free Press: “Between January and March 2022, Asheville Police Department (APD) charged fifteen individuals with “felony littering” in connection with a protest at Aston Park in late December 2021. The demonstration was against the City’s policy of evicting homeless encampments. In March, twelve of the Aston Park Defendants were also issued a “Restricted Access… Continue reading AFP: Aston Park Defendants Face Extrajudicial Punishment, Expert Sees Potential for First Amendment Challenge

“It’s an outrage that 15 mutual aid workers who volunteer their time and resources to help feed houseless people were recently charged with “felony littering” for being part of a food distribution event with an art build in Aston Park last December.” Cathy Holt, Mountain Xpress, April 16 Asheville community member Cathy Holt wrote a… Continue reading Mountain Xpress Letter: “An all-out war on the homeless”