Written by Bishop Andrew Gentry   

Recently the Asheville Police Department began taping law abiding citizens who met in General Assembly in a public city park and refused to answer why. Despite repeated request for the reasoning behind this very unconstitutional practice whose aim is suppression and intimidation the city remains silent. Yesterday however after a photo of the taping was posted by "Ivanrich" on Twitter a person who was looking at Facebook found a post by an Asheville Police Tech calling all of us at the park "dirt-asses" and went on to suggest we be lynched! Asheville Public Information officer found the posting humorous and said so only to recant later after her comment along with the Tech's were posted on various sites. I wrote to a company who is or was considering locating to Asheville, after getting no answer from the mayor or city council, an email telling them of these incidents and comments. It seems that the only thing that gets government officials attention is the possible loss of revenue and or business! Here is that letter.
Dear Sierra Nevada Brewing Company:

I have been a resident of Asheville N C for over 20 years and it is my understanding that you are considering locating a brewery here. Asheville has a reputation as a forward looking and progressive community but sadly because of the recent actions of its police department that reputation is being called into question. We like many towns and cities have been involved in a movement seeking economic justice and equality. We have been holding truly democratic meetings and discussions as well as participating in legal and law abiding street theater and marches. The City of Asheville and its police department has recently begun video taping our meetings as a form of intimidation and suppression. As of this date despite inquires to the City Council and Mayor's office we have received no answers as to why.

It has also just been revealed that an employee, Police technician Lynn Fraser of that department has posted some very incendiary remarks on her Facebook page about those of us who choose to exercise our right to assembly and free speech! She along with the support of Asheville City Public Information Officer and Social Media specialist(?) Mellisa Williams called for our lynching as in having a "hug around their neck with a rope" in addition to calling us, and forgive the language, "dirt asses"! If this is indeed the City's attitude towards its civic minded and activist citizens your company may want to study further a move here.

I know that your company is forward looking and progressive and I appreciate that. May I respectfully suggest that if you are still interested in Asheville as a site seek assurances from the City that it too is progressive and will not violate its citizens civil liberties.


Respectfully,

Bishop Andrew Gentry