We stand against police brutality. Always have. Black Lives Matter to us!

We are small business owners, and active members of the Asheville community. We have businesses in Downtown Asheville. And we stand with the protestors.

Our businesses are in a vulnerable position after COVID, we’d finally opened back up and were trying to get back on our feet when these protests began. And we still stand with the protestors.

Several of our storefronts were vandalized, with the potential for more damage in the days to come. We’ve boarded up our windows and are already seeing a decline in business coming to our Downtown locations. And yet, we still stand with the protestors.

For too long, money and property have been more important to this country than Black Lives, and it’s well past time for that to change. While we are opposed to the senseless destruction of private property, particularly that belonging to small businesses, this cannot be used to justify the brutality and violence we are seeing from the Asheville Police Department towards protestors, the vast majority of whom are peaceful. When the choices are made to destroy water and medical supplies, to indiscriminately shoot protestors with rubber bullets and tear gas, to set curfews to allow for mass arrests- do not use our businesses as an excuse.

The right to protest the ongoing murder of black people by the police is a constitutional one. It is a right that we, and most of the fellow local business owners we know, believe strongly in. So strongly that we would rather lose money than see protestors’ voices silenced and bodies wounded.

What we want is for the Asheville Police Department to attempt deescalating measures with the crowd before using violence. Even better- we’d like for the police to take part in the protest instead of standing against it. We understand the challenges of policing during these extraordinary times, but to use the very tactics that are being protested against our citizens is counterproductive to the end goal of progress and change.

We want to see a better city in the future- one that benefits ALL people and not just those with white skin or privileged backgrounds. And it needs to start now, with the deescalation of the APD’s protest response and policy changes that ensure equity for all Asheville and Buncombe County residents.

Sincerely,

Jenna Wilson, Patton Avenue Pet Company

Franzi Charen, Hip Replacements

Tracey Morgan, Tracey Morgan Gallery

Lexi DiYeso, Hazel Twenty

Josie Mielke, Urban Orchard Cider Company

Betsey-Rose Weiss, American Folk Art & Framing

Barb Skupien, Embellish Asheville

Jessica Tomasin, Echo Mountain Recording

Evans Prater, Mount Inspiration Apparel

Nicole Hairfield & Claire Watson, Moonlight Makers

Rebecca Hecht, Adorn Salon

Evar Hecht, Paul Taylor Custom Sandals

Lanise Walters, Fly Boutique

Anna Digges, Hue Color Lounge

Marylou Sanders, Spiritex

Marcy Lanier, Willows Dream

Lisa Ziemer, VaVaVooom

Sage Turner, French Broad Food Co+op

Rosetta Star, Rosetta’s Kitchen & The Buchi Bar

Sara Legatski, Honeypot Vintage

Linda, Mark and Cassidy Chester, Fired Up! Creative Lounge

Elizabeth Catlett, Vortex Doughnuts

Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center

Leah B Noel, CPA, PC

Micah Wheat, Asheville Music Hall & One Stop

Tim Weber, Twin Leaf Brewery

Annabel Eckert, Jack of the Wood and Laughing Seed

Angie Lavezzo, Sow True Seed

Benjy Greene, Banks Ave Bar

Rebeccah Barrett, Minx

Amber Arthur, Olde London Road Pub

Daniella Miller, Royal Peasantry

Jen Locke, Sensibilities

Hannah Bailey, Nicole Bohanon and Abby Hearne, Swell Salon

Robin Campbell, Dolce Vita

Charlie Hodge, Sovereign Remedies and Asheville Beauty Academy

Melissa Ward, Rustic Grape Wine Bar

Jackie Rees, Instant Karma

Jay Medford, Storm Rhum Bar and Bistro and The Underground Cafe with DoughP Doughnuts

Steven Goff, Aux Bar

Peter Montague, Zambra

Brandy Bourne, Horse + Hero

Alison Pages, Focal Point Coworking

Rik and Elizabeth Schell, Purls Yarn Emporium

Paul Fugelsang, Open Path Psychotherapy Collective

Cam MacQueen, THE BLOCK off biltmore

Jane Allred, Asheville Hemp Farms

Christi Apodaca, C&Co Handcrafted Skincare + Natural Spa

Keely Flow, Sovereign Kava

Ryan Reardon, Asheville Music School

Mary Hagood and Laurent Perotti, Room to Dance

Dane & Cynthia Barrager, Squiggle Enterprises

Marcy Gallagher, Kilwins Chocolates, Fudge & Ice Cream

(If you are a Downtown Asheville business owner and would like to sign on to this letter, please let us know!)

https://medium.com/@MODAvl/downtown-asheville-businesses-stand-with-protestors-c905a562eb22