Demand police accountability for all people of Asheville

Editors, Asheville Global Report,

In the last few weeks, citizens of Asheville have been increasingly exposed to the dark side of law enforcement. A local woman recently reported to the Mountain Xpress of an arrest she and her young child witnessed. They observed a homeless man whose hands were already bound in cuffs get his head bashed as the arresting officer slammed him against a squad car. Last week, AGR editor Eamon Martin received a debilitating blow to his face from police who aggressively introduced his eye to a concrete curb. The witness to this incident was also carted off to jail just for watching his friend getting abused by the cops. Police misconduct does not stop on the street, as evidenced by the latest charge against Sheriff Bobby Medford and his department: a cover up of a heinous domestic violence episode involving the Sheriff’s son.

Meanwhile, as many folks in Asheville react with shock and newly developed apprehension of police power, others see this unsettling picture not as a series of isolated events, but as spillover of an already rampant problem. These violent and often unfounded arrests occur daily. The usual targets are the usual suspects: the poor, people of color, and more recently, Muslims. If you are all three the chances of escaping police harassment are pretty slim.

Four months ago, such an occasion was brought to our attention. Khalid Saadiq and Ismael Hassan were stopped for no legitimate reason, then promptly cuffed and beaten. They were not told why they were being detained and later arrested. Ismael was taken to the hospital, but while under police supervision he was denied an x-ray of his injuries. Now the two face trial for the bogus traffic stop as if they are the criminals in this case. Since the initial reports broke, the officers have added some hefty details to their story, suddenly alleging that Ismael was grabbing for the cop’s gun and that he had thrown a punch. There was no mention of such activity in the original police report, but they must scramble to justify ruthlessly beating a kneeling handcuffed man in front of his young son, mother and neighbors.

The significance of this incident transcends its surface value as yet another case of police brutality. It is significant because these two men bravely chose to challenge injustice, putting themselves and their families on the line. Sadly, their story is not unique. Still, many people remain unaware of the magnitude of the problem, which only allows it to persist. In response to those who question, observe or criticize this unacceptable behavior, the police have sent a message loud and clear: come too close and we’ll get you too. We must reject the framework that supports that attitude. We reject the notion that “protect and serve” only applies to the wealthy elite- whom police Chief Will Annarino refers to as his “customer base.”

The police have to be accountable, but to whom? If we insist that they be accountable to us, we are obliged to pay attention and to loudly voice our outrage, assuring the cops that we will not stand by as our comrades, our families, our rights and our personal safety get trampled.

Come to the public forum on police brutality in Asheville at the Stephens Lee Center on Saturday, Nov. 16. There will also be a rally on Thursday, Nov. 21, from 8:30am - 9:30am prior to the trial of Khalid and Ismael ... please come help pack the courtroom.

Allie Morris
Asheville, North Carolina