Op-Ed: Activists Disrupt Pratt & Whitney Hiring Event
Op-Ed: Activists Disrupt Pratt & Whitney Hiring Event
On February 1, 2024, Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of the aerospace conglomerate Raytheon Technologies, held a hiring event at Biltmore Square in Asheville, NC. As previously identified by the local organization Reject Raytheon, which formed in 2020 to protest the development of the Pratt & Whitney aerospace manufacturing center in south
Asheville Free Press
Op-Ed: Banners on UNCA Campus Call For Solidarity With Palestine
Op-Ed: Banners on UNCA Campus Call For Solidarity With Palestine
Banners expressing solidarity with Palestine were hung on the campus of UNC Asheville in the early morning hours of Friday, November 17, 2023. In a statement submitted to the Asheville Free Press, students called for a ceasefire and end to Israeli occupation, while connecting the ongoing crisis in G…
Asheville Free Press
Op-Ed: APD's New Brake Light Program Is a Dangerous Recuperation of Mutual Aid
Op-Ed: APD’s New Brake Light Program Is a Dangerous Recuperation of Mutual Aid
In this op-ed, Libertie Valance argues that APD’s new voucher system, designed to bolster support for police and undermine mutual aid, is both ineffective and dangerous.
Asheville Free Press
Moog Factory Workers Launch Union Drive
Moog Factory Workers Launch Union Drive
Moog Factory Workers are launching a unionization drive to address unlivable wages, layoffs, and lack of worker control at the world-famous instrument company
Asheville Free Press
Asheville's 2022 Municipal Budget Proposal Includes More Than $1.6 Million Increase for APD.
Asheville’s 2022 Municipal Budget Proposal Includes More Than $1.6 Million Increase for APD.
The proposal includes an increase to the overall budget of approximately $16 million, a 7.5% increase from 2021-22.
Asheville Free Press
See the budget proposal here.
The City of Asheville Denies All Park Ban Appeals for Aston Park Defendants
The City of Asheville Denies All Park Ban Appeals for Aston Park Defendants
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.
Asheville Free Press
Op-Ed: We Took Action for Earth Day by Blockading Pratt & Whitney
Op-Ed: We Took Action for Earth Day by Blockading Pratt & Whitney
Local citizen coalition, Reject Raytheon AVL, pulled off a three-part demonstration for the protection of the earth and against the US military-industrial complex. We rallied, we paraded, and we performed a direct action.
Asheville Free Press
Aston Park Defendants Face Extrajudicial Punishment, Expert Sees Potential for First Amendment Challenge
Aston Park Defendants Face Extrajudicial Punishment, Expert Sees Potential for First Amendment Challenge
Activists facing felony charges and extrajudicial punishment may be able to mount a First Amendment challenge, according to an expert.
Asheville Free Press
Trans Visibility is Not Enough.
Trans Visibility is Not Enough.
Trans people deserve solidarity. Trans kids deserve protection. Trans people deserve power.
Asheville Free Press
Benefit Concert Showcases Queer Country Music, BBQ, and Solidarity.
Benefit Concert Showcases Queer Country Music, BBQ, and Solidarity.
Asheville could just be part of Country Music’s reclamation.
Asheville Free Press
Aston Park Defendants: “We Will Not Be Silent in the Face of Repression.”
15 Locals Face Rare Felonies Following Aston Park Demonstrations.
“We will not be silent in the face of repression.”
Asheville Free Press
Activists Disrupt City Council Retreat; Demand Sanctuary Camping and Climate Justice
Activists Disrupt City Council Retreat; Demand Sanctuary Camping and Climate Justice
A protest organized by the Sunrise Movement stopped Asheville City Council’s annual “retreat” in its tracks moments after it began.
Asheville Free Press
Are City Council 'Check-Ins' Legal? Some Experts Say "No"
Are City Council ‘Check-Ins’ Legal? Some Experts Say “No”
The Council’s use of official committees complicates their justification for private ‘check-in’ sessions.
Asheville Free Press
Analysis: APD Blames Nearly All Downtown Crime on Camps to Justify Sweeps
Analysis: APD Blames Nearly All Downtown Crime on Camps to Justify Sweeps
APD’s data analysis reveals a lack of rigor befitting of a propaganda campaign, not serious data science.
Asheville Free Press
Asheville Police Release New Policy on Encounters With Unhoused Residents
Asheville Police Release New Policy on Encounters With Unhoused Residents
On February 15, 2022, Asheville Police Department (APD) finalized and released its new policy on encounters with the unhoused community. The document was released to us via email by APD spokesperson Samantha Booth.
Asheville Free Press
"Restore Asheville Police" Initiative Needs a Reality Check
“Restore Asheville Police” Initiative Needs a Reality Check
In the retelling of the gassing of protesters in the summer of 2020, the armored cops are the ones under attack.
Asheville Free Press
City Council May Be Considering Restrictions Against Sharing Food With Unhoused Neighbors
City Council May Be Considering Restrictions Against Sharing Food With Unhoused Neighbors
On the City Council agenda for January 25, 2022, is a new city ordinance restricting residents’ ability to share food with unhoused Asheville residents in public parks.
Asheville Free Press
Asheville Officials Removed More Than 20 Homeless Camps in 2021
Asheville Officials Removed More Than 20 Homeless Camps in 2021
There were dozens more instances where City officials forced sleeping people to relocate, according to public documents.
Asheville Free Press
Q&A With Organizers: "New Year, No Jail" – Locals Ring In 2022 with Abolitionist Tradition, Launch Community Bail Fund
“New Year, No Jail” – Locals Ring In 2022 with Abolitionist Tradition, Launch Community Bail Fund
We spoke with local organizers Ash Williams and R about the NYE Noise Demo, its purpose, and its context in Asheville. We also spoke with Julie, an organizer with the Asheville Community Bail Fund about the new project. Find those interviews below.
Asheville Free Press
Asheville Police Lied About Change in Homeless Camp Eviction Policy
Asheville Police Lied About Change in Homeless Camp Eviction Policy
APD claims policy on encounters with unhoused community members changed. Information obtained via public records requests reveals this to be untrue.
Asheville Free Press
Camp Sweeps and Press Freedom Violations; Merry Christmas from The City of Asheville.
Camp Sweeps and Press Freedom Violations; Merry Christmas from The City of Asheville.
“Rebuke!” is the Asheville Free Press’ criticism column. It combines fact-based analysis with a clear perspective on issues that affect our communities. Saturday, December 25, 2021, was an unseasonably warm Christmas Day – the temperature reached highs in the 70’s. But the day’s low point had to be…
Asheville Free Press
Community Art Party Leads to Multi-Day Demonstration Demanding 'Sanctuary Camp' at Aston Park
Community Art Party Leads to Multi-Day Demonstration Demanding ‘Sanctuary Camp’ at Aston Park
Housed and unhoused community members gathered at Aston Park on Sunday, December 19th, to make art, “share space,” and “make time for grief.” A flyer circulated on social media said the event was to take place between 1 and 6 pm, but over the course of the day, it evolved
Asheville Free Press
Ex-Workers: High Five Coffee’s Progressive Veneer Hides “Toxic,” “Misogynistic” Culture
Ex-Workers: High Five Coffee’s Progressive Veneer Hides “Toxic,” “Misogynistic” Culture
The Instagram page for Asheville’s High Five Coffee is filled with posts hash-tagged “Team Tuesday,” showcasing employees at the company’s three locations as an outwardly facing effort to reflect management’s appreciation for their hard work and dedication. In reality, the portraits of employees act…
Asheville Free Press
Code Purple: Activists Demand Relief Funds for Unhoused Community
Housing Activists Protest at Downtown Hotels; Demand Council Deploy Relief Funds for Unhoused Community
At approximately 4:00 pm on November 26th, 2021, a group of housing activists protested at two downtown hotels to demand the City of Asheville deploy a portion of the funds they received as part of the American Rescue Plan Act to provide immediate relief for the unhoused community. “Our
Asheville Free Press
Press Release: Community Members Defend Family of Four Facing Eviction
Community Members Defend Family of Four Facing Eviction
Housing activists and community members came together early this morning to defend a family of four from an eviction. At this time, our sources say that 6 people have been arrested. We will update this story. BCSD deputies occupying the home of a family facing eviction. Photo by Elliot PattersonThe
Asheville Free Press
"Land Back" for Indigenous People's Day
“Land Back”: Activists tag Buncombe County Government Building on Indigenous People’s Day
Anonymous activists tagged a Buncombe County Government building early Monday morning, providing a message that runs counter to the typical “Columbus Day” rhetoric.
Asheville Free Press
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BCS COVID-19 Data
Data Dashboard: Buncombe County Schools COVID-19 Cases 2021-2022
Buncombe County Schools will not be maintaining a COVID-19 data dashboard for the 2021-2022 school year, instead opting to release piecemeal data on a per-school basis. We’ve decided to maintain our own dashboard by collecting their data and compiling it to display here. …
Asheville Free Press
The Coffin Incident
Calling BS: APD and the Coffin Full of Cow Manure.
Asheville PD says someone left a threat at their door. The evidence paints a different story.
Asheville Free Press
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