Occupy Asheville camp evicted, three arrested

Here’s how the deal came down. Twitter coverage of the city of Asheville’s eviction of the Occupy Asheville camp in front of City Hall, which was among the last public encampments in the country. The campers had until noon today to leave. Police made three arrests Saturday evening, Feb. 17.

Earlier this morning, Xpress reporter Bill Rhodes stopped by the camp.

Below is an aggregation of Twitter coverage by @DavidForbes:
• 10:48:00 @mxnews: Last sunrise at City Hall for #OccupyAsheville http://t.co/7Wmi3pGR
• 11:25:00 @DavidForbes: Heading down to observe the #occupyasheville camp eviction

• 11:40:00 @DavidForbes: The scene at the #occupyasheville camp. So far fairly sedate, most tents gone #avlnews http://t.co/ppB3nYTj
• 11:42:00 @DavidForbes: About 40 people at #occupyasheville camp. No visible APD presence yet
• 11:47:00 @DavidForbes: Some #occupyasheville campers picking up trash. Ground’s bare, not much grass left.
• 11:51:00 @DavidForbes: Staff watching from City Hall, passerby driving through roundabout snapping pictures of protesters

• 12:02:00 @DavidForbes: One #occupyasheville protester in “ceremonial moving garb” http://t.co/HlE27Wkv
• 12:04:00 @DavidForbes: Noon. Ordinance is in effect, camp’s now banned. No APD presence yet. About 50 people here. 
• 12:09:00 @DavidForbes: Occupy the Roads bus parked below #occupyasheville camp site. City Hall camp among last public encampments.
• 12:12:00 @DavidForbes: Now someone’s drumming and shouting “freedom” repeatedly
• 12:13:00 @DavidForbes: Follow #occupyasheville for coverage of City Hall camp eviction. So far: deadline’s past, no APD presence.
• 12:20:00 @DavidForbes: City workers hauling two cans of trash from #occupyasheville campsite, advising camper on where to get more bags.
• 12:23:00 @DavidForbes: APD arriving at #occupyasheville camp. One officer so far, two more nearby.
• 12:25:00 @DavidForbes: John Penley, part of orig Zuccotti #ows camp, Avl native, says he plans to refuse to leave #occupyasheville camp.
• 12:26:00 @DavidForbes: Penley came through Asheville High as it was integrated, says he still sees civil rights issues in city
• 12:28:00 @DavidForbes: Penley: APD better in treatment of protesters than NYPD, other police I’ve observed. Cordial so far.
• 12:30:00 @DavidForbes: Now, people banging didgeridoos and dancing. Sole APD officer chatting w protesters
• 12:35:00 @DavidForbes: City Hall bells chime out “My country ‘tis of thee” About 50 ppl still here.
• 12:43:00 @DavidForbes: Natalie Nicolai asking protesters to march up to Vance monument, come back to #occupyasheville camp.
• 12:44:00 @DavidForbes: Nicolai: Let’s plan to come back to #occupyasheville campsite at 9: 30 tonight.
• 12:48:00 @DavidForbes: About 20 ppl left at #occupyasheville camp. Rest marching to Vance monument.
• 13:08:00 @grn_conspiracy: #occupyasheville March & eviction streamed at http://t.co/yMJmI2kd
• 13:09:00 @DavidForbes: No #occupyasheville eviction yet. Marchers returning. APD officer left. Grabbing a bite to eat and then I’ll be back at it.
• 13:10:00 @DavidForbes: Penley’s setting up a tent on city hall steps

• 13:12:00 @DavidForbes: The tent on the City Hall steps #occupyasheville http://t.co/tzfMaakc
• 13:25:00 @DavidForbes: City staff putting up another “no camping” sign beside #occupyasheville site. http://t.co/xyKOkkp6
• 13:33:00 @DavidForbes: City staff putting up another “no camping” sign beside #occupyasheville site. http://t.co/OBsHcrt
• 13:37:00 @DavidForbes: APD car on scene, numbers down considerably to about 10 people
• 13:43:00 @DavidForbes: Penley: “I’m not trespassing, I’m illegally tenting.” 2nd APD car arrived. http://t.co/VASoHDGX
• 13:45:00 @DavidForbes: APD Sgt. Eberhart asking Penley to move tent to right or left. Penley: Tent symbolic, not sleeping in it #occupyasheville
• 13:47:00 @MaryCaitlinByrd: Trying to track the #occupyasheville eviction? Here you go: http://t.co/6hZoClLM Also @DavidForbes is live-tweeting
• 13:47:00 @DavidForbes: Eberhart showing Penley where to move tent, claims he’s blocking entrance. Penley moves tent.
• 13:48:00 @DavidForbes: Correction: Sgt. Don Eberhardt
• 14:03:00 @DavidForbes: Dashing back to office for a second. @ashevillein still on scene.
• 14:58:00 @DavidForbes: According to @ashevillein there’s now no cops at the #occupyasheville camp site.

• 15:46:00 @DavidForbes: Penley’s tent still in front of City Hall. Protesters made contact w ACLU. No APD presence right now.
• 15:53:00 @DavidForbes: Carolina Stompers founder Chad Nesbitt’s showed up at #occupyasheville camp.
• 16:15:00 @wright_emma: The last of #occupyavl stands their ground. @WLOS_ABC13 #avlnews http://t.co/LWnzm7sG #occupyashevill
• 16:19:00 @DavidForbes: Nesbitt talked briefly to some media, took pictures and left #occupyasheville
• 16:25:00 @DavidForbes: The deadline’s over four hours past, but it seems like the APD aren’t evicting #occupyasheville til later.
• 16:35:00 @MaryCaitlinByrd: Live-feed of the #occupyasheville eviction: http://t.co/s2VvjIje

• 18:23:00 @DavidForbes: Scattered tents still on #occupyasheville site. Tent still in front of city hall. Checking back in periodically.
• 18:24:00 @DavidForbes: Some of the protesters are gathering again before 10pm park curfew. #occupyasheville

• 21:31:00 @DavidForbes: Back at #occupyasheville camp. A few tents left. About 20 ppl here, some playing music. Park curfew is 10pm #avlnews
• 21:48:00 @DavidForbes: One tent left on #occupyasheville campsite, another set up in front of City Hall.
• 21:50:00 @DavidForbes: Pardon me, two tents in front of City Hall steps.
• 22:01:00 @DavidForbes: The #occupyasheville protesters are drawing w chalk on brick area in front of City Hall steps.

• 22:07:00 @DavidForbes: #occupyasheville tents in front of City Hall http://t.co/O5f7eWyn
• 22:22:00 @DavidForbes: Six APD officers approaching #occupyasheville camp. Protesters declaring intent to stay peaceful
• 22:24:00 @DavidForbes: Tent on former #occupyasheville campsite empty. Lt. Gonce asking people to remove anything they have
• 22:25:00 @DavidForbes: John Spitzberg, Vets for Peace: We want to stay peaceful. Gonce: So do we.

• 22:30:00 @DavidForbes: Capt. Daryl Fisher talking to #occupyasheville, explaining new city rules on structures http://t.co/ESFNxRGl
• 22:31:00 @DavidForbes: #occupyasheville protester to Gonce: Here to remove the constitution? Gonce: We’re here to remove the tents.
• 22:32:00 @DavidForbes: Some #occupyasheville protesters covering mouths w pink duct tape
• 22:33:00 @DavidForbes: John Penley refusing to leave, saying his tent is symbolic, protected by 1st Amend #occupyasheville
• 22:35:00 @DavidForbes: Protesters, led by Victor Ochoa: If arrest Penley, arresting our rights. Talked w ACLU, says he has right.
• 22:37:00 @DavidForbes: Penley: #occupyasheville here even if arrested. “Come get me.”
• 22:40:00 @DavidForbes: Matthew Burd, #occupyasheville: If you impede the police, they can arrest you.
• 22:41:00 @DavidForbes: Some #occupyasheville members chatting w one of the APD officers, he’s talking about his military stint. Six officers here.
• 22:45:00 @DavidForbes: Spitzberg, Burd, others discussing plans once Penley gets arrested, goes to jail
• 22:46:00 @DavidForbes: Some #occupyasheville protesters talking about linking arms, say more APD on way
• 22:47:00 @DavidForbes: APD presence up to 12, more coming. Gonce asking Penley to leave. Penley refusing, says tent is legal.
• 22:49:00 @DavidForbes: Occupant of other tent getting same warning from Gonce. Also refusing to move.
• 22:51:00 @DavidForbes: Gonce: If not staying in tent, free to stay in front of City Hall, but ask to stay back if we arrest
• 22:52:00 @DavidForbes: Protester: You know you’re part of the 99%? Gonce: Thanks for informing me of that.
• 22:53:00 @DavidForbes: Other tent occupant that’s not moving is Matthew Danovich
• 22:55:00 @DavidForbes: 22 #occupyasheville protesters forming “om” circle. 8 others around Penley. About 20 APD on scene.
• 22:58:00 @DavidForbes: Fisher asking people to move back, crowd shouting “Shame” Ochoa: “This world’s coming to a dark place”
• 22:59:00 @DavidForbes: #occupyasheville protesters noting APD’s lack of pay raise in 3 yrs, declaring nonviolence, solidarity w Penley.
• 23:01:00 @DavidForbes: Matthew Danovich handcuffed, taken away
• 23:03:00 @DavidForbes: Perry, owner of tent Danovich was staying in refuses to remove it, handcuffed and cited.
• 23:04:00 @DavidForbes: #occupyasheville protester to Fisher: Can we observe? Fisher: Absolutely.
• 23:05:00 @DavidForbes: #occupyasheville protesters: APD should be arresting 1%, esp Bank of America.
• 23:06:00 @DavidForbes: One protester comparing police to Nazis, others taking issue w that. Ochoa: Just human beings trying to survive.
• 23:07:00 @zensutherland: Perry, earlier today. http://t.co/kDUOcOnP
• 23:08:00 @DavidForbes: #occupyasheville protesters arguing over evil (or lack thereof) of police.
• 23:10:00 @DavidForbes: One woman: APD’s treated us well, not responsible for police elsewhere. Another man: Because cameras here.
• 23:11:00 @DavidForbes: 3 arrested, APD taking down tents now
• 23:15:00 @DavidForbes: Debate’s died down. About 15 #occupyasheville protesters observing dismantling of tents
• 23:16:00 @DavidForbes: #occupyasheville camp in front of City Hall since late Nov.
• 23:20:00 @DavidForbes: #occupyasheville looking to get agreement on paying bail, as two arrestees out of state.
• 23:24:00 @DavidForbes: All 3 #occupyasheville arrestees charged w violation of new city ordinance
• 23:30:00 @DavidForbes About 30 APD officers here, asking if ppl will take remaining #occupyasheville signs from camp.
• 23:31:00 @DavidForbes: Gonce: Can sleep in sleeping bags on space as long as not blocking access
• 23:32:00 @DavidForbes Gonce: Not about what I want, about city ordinance
• 23:37:00 @DavidForbes     APD starting to disperse, a few #occupyasheville protesters remaining.
• 23:38:00 @DavidForbes     To sum up: #occupyasheville City Hall camp, in place since Nov, cleared by APD, 3 arrested.