Protesters given 2 p.m. deadline: must leave APD lobby or face arrest

Posted on by Dan Hesse
Black Asheville Matters protesters meet with an Asheville Police Department liaison.

On Friday, Capt. Stony Gonce of the Asheville Police Department addressed protesters, who have occupied the lobby of APD’s 100 Court Plaza station since Thursday, July 21. (For more information about the Black Asheville Matters demonstration, view XPress coverage from June 21.) Gonce said protestors must leave the lobby by 2 p.m. on Friday, July 22 or face possible arrest. He also said if they leave the lobby they can discuss another place for the demonstration to continue. APD’s services are being disrupted by the protestors’ presence, Gonce explained.

Asheville Police Department Capt. Stony Gonce tells demonstrators they will need to evacuate the lobby or face arreset.
Asheville Police Department Capt. Stony Gonce tells demonstrators they will need to evacuate the lobby or face arreset.

This is a developing story. For further coverage of the shooting and death of Jerry Williams and resulting rallies and public demonstrations, see “Updated: Community gathers to mourn Jerry Williams, protest police shootings of black men” (Xpress, July 5, 2016) and “Civil rights advocate: APD used excessive force in Williams shooting, failed to render aid” (Xpress, July 6, 2016).

More information on Black Asheville Matters can be found at http://goo.gl/6hda0B or at the “Justice For Jerry Williams” Facebook page. To see the Asheville Police Department’s official statement on the shooting from July 2, 2016, and a follow-up from Chief Hooper, see below. To see allegations disputing the official police statement, as distributed by rally organizers, see below as well.

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About Dan Hesse
I grew up outside of Atlanta and moved to WNC in 2001 to attend Montreat College. After college, I worked at NewsRadio 570 WWNC as an anchor/reporter and covered Asheville City Council and the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners starting in 2004. During that time I also completed WCU's Master of Public Administration program. You can reach me at dhesse@mountainx.com.
View all posts by Dan Hesse →

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3 thoughts on “Protesters given 2 p.m. deadline: must leave APD lobby or face arrest”

  1. boatrocker

    Good for those protesters.

    Notice the T shirts- a simple yet effective message- “Stop Killing Black People”.
    Who disagrees with that?
    Smirk- I know who.

    As I’ve never occupied a building for protesting, I do have 2 questions:

    1) What is the nastiest, smelliest food you can bring to eat in order to stink up the place?
    2) Why do you flush for leaving a lil’ present in the restroom when that would make just as an effective statement?

    • Paul

      Your comments are telling boatrocker. You have no interest in the truth or justice, only anarchy. Go back to your comic books. Leave reality for the adults.

      • boatrocker

        Gosh, I’m sorry.

        I thought those T shirts actually stood for a noble ideal, but now I know they are just free promotional band T shirts given away at an Orange Peel show. Didn’t that band Stop Killing Black People used to tour with Metallica for their “Kill ’em All” tour? Great album.

        I suppose I should learn to read and evaluate my sources carefully before assuming that everyone wants to be not shot to death by the police before a suspect’s innocence or guilt is proven in a court of law.

        Any War on Police by the way, was started by them. I never liked that band anyway.

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