Activists respond to McCrory’s cancelation of Moogfest appearence, protest will go on

Here’s the press release from protest organizers:

Governor McCrory announced the cancelation of his appearance at a closed door, invitation only event to kick-off Moogfest 2014. The governor was to attend the panel discussion on technology and economic development in WNC along with Asheville’s mayor Esther Mannheimer, business leaders from Durham, and the mayor of Hickory, among others.

The event generated controversy owing to the unpopularity of the Governor’s agenda and sparked a protest coalition that had grown to over three hundred people planning to demonstrate against McCrory’s appearance at closed door event. The protest group coalesced around a set of diverse issues including but not limited to allegations of corruption, environmental damage and coverups, regressive economic policy, attacks on abortion access, attacks on public education, among many others.

Despite being widely reported in the media by a number of outlets, featured in the public relations material of both the mayor’s law firm who sponsored the meeting, and the Moogfest website, McCrory’s office cited a ‘scheduling conflict’ as the reason for his cancellation.

Andrew LaFiosca, a local Ashevillian and protest organizer had this to say, “Over the past week, we’ve seen our collective community rise in solidarity confronting an administration that threatens our environment, our right to equality, and our future.

While some speculation remains on the reasoning behind McCrory’s sudden absence, especially in light of all the press releases, articles, and posts in Moog’s official schedule, I think we can all be happy that a man so mired in corruption, and so out of touch with the citizens who pay his salary will no longer falsely represent our town in it’s biggest festival of the year.  Whether or not someone at Moog, or through the city made a positive decision in regards to the community remains to be seen.”

The rally remains scheduled for 2:30 pm, next Wednesday, April 23 in downtown Asheville at the Vance Monument.

“We still plan to gather at the Vance monument on Wednesday.  The issues we have with the governor have not dissipated, simply because his presence has. They are not reducible to one man. We look forward to having speakers from different segments of the community come out to address these topics.”