Five arrested at local bike protest

By Andy Cline

Asheville, North Carolina, Mar. 21 (AGR)-- On Friday, Mar. 21, protesters against the US-led war on Iraq gathered at Vance Memorial in large numbers, despite worries some had following arrests during protests the day before.

Meanwhile, at Pritchard Park, between 30 and 40 bicyclists were gathering to ride their bikes in opposition to the war.

The ride was orderly and consistent as it circled the south side of downtown and climbed Biltmore Ave. on the way to Pack Square. According to eyewitness accounts, participants in the ride were compliant to police requests throughout the demonstration.

The climax of the day came in the form of more arrests, with protesters being tackled and thrown to the ground by the police, leaving rally participants shocked.

When the critcal mass ride passed attendees at the Vance Memorial, the crowd cheered their approval. Bikers waited for a red light at the intersection of Broadway and College, at which point one rider was pulled out of the road.

Police officers requested the man’s identification and told him to walk to the police van.

When he asked what he was being charged with, officers refused to tell him. He was later given a citation for impeding the flow of traffic.

Next, a woman was arrested, apparently because she had no identifying papers.

Demonstrators began to chant “Shame! Shame!”

Moments after the first arrest, four police officers tackled another man, pushing his face into the ground, while another woman was thrown off her feet and pinned to the ground.

A woman chanting slogans on her bicycle was charged at from some distance and tackled to the ground by several officers, while another protester was quietly arrested.

This second day of protester arrestes have brought attention to the methods of the Asheville Police Department empoyed during non-violent demonstrations.

Many proterstors accused the police of inappropriate uses of force and unclear charges.

“Definitely from what I’ve seen, the police have been the aggressor,” commented Asheville resident Lola LaFey.

back to top