Reclaim the Streets participants plan public forum

By Shawn Gaynor

Asheville, North Carolina, June 6— The political and legal fall-out over the May 22 “Reclaim the Streets” demonstration in downtown Asheville continues as 11 defendants await trial later this month on misdemeanor charges. The un-permitted parade and street party, which drew some 120 Asheville residents, ended when Asheville city police forcibly cleared the streets, making arrests and hitting some with metal batons.

The festive gathering had wound its way through over a dozen blocks of the downtown area, before being confronted by a police roadblock on the top of Walnut Street. Following police orders, the crowd moved back down the hill only to be confronted again on Lexington and College. Five people were arrested when over twenty police began indiscriminately grabbing and detaining people. Several of those arrested were charged with obstruction of traffic and resisting arrest even though video shows them on the sidewalk or in the parking lane, peacefully complying with police when arrested. The APD has stated that they may make more arrests from police video that was taped at the scene.

Six others were arrested in a separate but related incident when roughly 50 people concerned with the fate of those arrested during the event gathered that evening in front of the Buncombe County jail, to inquire about those arrested earlier.

Sheriff Bobby Medford continues to assert that the assembly was attempting a jail break even though dozens of wittiness say people had been assembled peacefully for over twenty minutes, and had complied with deputies’ orders to clear the lobby and steps before the sheriff arrived and took control of the scene.

Medford, dressed in civilian clothing and driving an unmarked car, rushed into the crowd wielding a shotgun. He immediately began ordering the arrests of several people. He then pointed the shotgun at people and threatened to kill them if they did not disperse, ordering officers to fire at anyone who did not leave.

According to a WCQS report made five days later, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department, responsible for the jail facility, claims that a security door at the prison was broken at the time of the solidarity gathering. This was reportedly key to their aggressive response to the gathering, because incoming and transfer prisoners would need to be taken through the front door where people were assembled. However, several people present claim they saw the door in operation that evening.

“It may be time for us to develop some mechanism for citizens to insure police accountability,” said one participant who asked not to be identified.

Several Reclaim the Streets participants plan to hold a public forum to discuss issues of freedom of assembly and speech, and the police response to the peaceful Reclaim the Streets gathering. One of the forum organizers stated “We hope to address and dispel some of the many rumors that have circulated about the incident.” The forum will be held at Lord Auditorium (in the Pack Library Basement) on Tuesday, June 19 at 6pm.

North Carolinians sentenced for protest at air force base

By Patrick O’Neill

Goldsboro, North Carolina, May 25— Four North Carolina peace activists were among a group of six men who received suspended sentences May 25 in Wayne County District Court stemming from a Palm Sunday act of civil disobedience at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.

On April 8, Willy Rosencrans of Asheville, Francisco Risso of Morganton, Francis Coyle of Chapel Hill, and Steve Woolford of Chatham County, joined a group of peace activists who crossed a police roadblock to kneel and pray in front of the sign welcoming visitors to the base. The protest focused on the F-15 Strike Eagle war jets based at Seymour Johnson. The F-15s played major roles in recent US bombing campaigns against Iraq and Yugoslavia.

Peace activists have been protesting at Seymour Johnson for more than 20 years.

After a police warning to leave the base property, the six continued to pray and were arrested for second-degree trespass.

At his trial, Coyle, a member of the Chapel Hill Friends Meeting, told District Court Judge David Brantley that by his actions he hoped “to speak to that of God” in each person who may have been exposed to the actions of the six. “I felt led by the Spirit to join these folks in a moment of prayer.”

Woolford, who along with his wife Lenore Yarger, founded the Silk Hope Catholic Worker, told the judge that his protest at the base was “a very life-giving act that is the total opposite of what happens when the F-15 attacks.”

Despite a precedent of active jail sentences for previous Seymour Johnson protesters, Judge Brantley did not sentence the six to jail. Coyle and Woolford received 10-day sentences that were suspended for two years on condition they do not return to the base for more civil disobedience. The judge also imposed no fines or court costs on the six. They did, however, receive “ban and bar” letters from the base that bans them from base property for four years unless they get special permission.

“Obviously it’s not my intention to imprison any of you,” the judge said. “It’s clear that all of you came in a spirit of civil disobedience.”

Also receiving suspended sentences were Steve Baggarly of Norfolk, Virginia and Bill Frankel-Streit of Goochland, Virginia.