Message to Asheville City Council members re police violence

Dear Asheville City Council members,

I am deeply disturbed by the recent violence perpetrated by officers of the Asheville Police Department, especially their harsh treatment of medics and the destruction of their medical supplies on the evening of June 2.

When police officers show up at peaceful protests in riot gear and armed with tear gas, flashbang grenades, and weapons that fire rubber bullets, it’s clear that they are not there to protect the people of Asheville exercising their First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and assembly; they are there to confront their perceived enemy–citizens who abhor the murder of black people by cops.

Want to reduce police violence? Strip all officers of their riot gear and require standard law enforcement uniforms. Then, perhaps our police officers will gain some clarity about their official duty–protectors of the people of our mountain city whose taxes pay their salaries.

Sincerely,
Bruce Mulkey
Asheville, North Carolina