Ashevillians march against police brutality
Joining in a national day of action, on Oct. 22, 2003 citizens of Asheville
marched against police brutality.Photo by Liz Allen
By Liz Allen
Oct. 27 (AGR)– More than 30 people gathered in Prichard
Park at 5pm on Wednesday, Oct. 22 in recognition of the eighth national
day of protest against police brutality. Many wore black in solidarity
and morning for victims of police violence. The group held signs with
slogans such as “Murderers with badges are still murderers”
and “Racism and justice cannot co-exist.” One attendee held
a sign with a large picture of himself with his eye blackened and swollen
shut and a caption that read, “Thanks, APD! Guilty Until Proven
Innocent.”
During the rally flyers were distributed with information about police
brutality both locally and nationally. According to the flyer, “Police
Brutality is generally defined as the use of excessive force by law
enforcement professionals, and can be any lethal or non-lethal act of
violence that oversteps the boundaries of acceptable force warranted
by a situation…Violent police offenders need to be treated as any
other violent offender and can not be allowed to use their positions
of authority to harass and abuse those that they are paid to protect.
It is essential to establish a civilian oversight board that can help
to ensure that if an incident occurs, offenders are held accountable,
not able to hide behind the shield of a badge and a legal system that
vindicates officers every time.”
A march was held with a route going up Haywood Rd., around the Civic
Center, up Lexington Ave. to Pack Square, to the Courthouse and then
to Vance Monument. There the group of protesters were asked to raise
their hands if they had ever been beaten by a cop, and more than half
of the group did so. While marching they chanted, “2,4,6,8 Fuck
the police state!” and “No justice, no peace, no fucked up
police!” Most demonstrators stayed on the sidewalk as they marched
through downtown Asheville, which was already crowded due to rush hour,
tourist season, and the Widespread Panic show that was at the Civic
Center that evening. Many onlookers honked, gave thumbs up signs or
shouted words of support. Two bicycle cops followed the marchers for
the entirety of the march, warning them to obey traffic signs. Police
gathered in front of the Civic Center openly showed little interest
in the noisy march.
That day, according to the Asheville Citizen Times, Alcohol Law Enforcement
(ALE) officers arrested 32 people during the concert at the Civic Center.
ALE assistant supervisor Allen Page said nine agents were sent to the
concert in repose to concern over drugs there, and 56 charges were given
out. Ten people received felony drug charges, 26 receiving misdemeanor
drug charges, and five received charges of selling alcohol without a
permit.
