ASHEVILLE - The city has declared a state of emergency and imposed an 8 p.m. curfew following a second night of increasingly destructive protests that saw guns brandished and shots fired downtown.
Mayor Esther Manheimer made the announcement shortly before 1 p.m. via a release to the media, social media and a recorded phone message sent out to residents.
Residents are to stay at home from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The curfew is indefinite until ended by her, Manheimer said.
Violators can be charged with a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Day 2: Protests started peacefully, ended with more destruction and gun shots
Photos and videos: See what 2 nights of protests have looked like in Asheville
"I respect everyone’s right to demonstrate and express their anger, sadness and frustration," Manheimer said. "It is important that we support the people’s right to expression, while still ensuring the safety of everyone in our community."
The mayor said she made the decision "following the last two night’s of unrest and destruction of property."
Exceptions for leaving home are medical emergencies and acquiring goods or services that are necessary to sustain well-being of a resident or a resident's family, the statement said.
Those not affected by the curfew are medical professionals, public safety workers, medical or health care workers, military personnel, public transportation personnel, public utilities personnel and members of the media.
As of 1 p.m., no serious injuries had been reported from the local protests. They are part of a national wave of unrest after what prosecutors say was the murder of black Minneapolis resident George Floyd by one of that city's police officers.
More: What to know about Asheville's curfew (Q&A)
Gun shots were fired during the second night of protests which ran into the early hours of June 2. Property damage included broken windows and graffiti on may city buildings.
Witnesses said one of the buildings damaged was the Van Winkle Law Firm where Manheimer is a partner.
Curfews have been imposed in multiple US cities including Raleigh, Charlotte and Greensboro in North Carolina.
The mayor was given the power to unilaterally declare curfews in response to the coronavirus pandemic. In the wake of the pandemic the City Council declared a state of emergency, authorizing the body to limit people's movement threw actions such as curfews. On March 24 the council voted 7-0 to give the mayor sole power to make such declarations.
This breaking story will be updated.
Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
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