Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Some members of a group that’s come to be known as the Asheville 11 have disavowed one member of the group because she talked to police, according to a statement posted on the Denver Anarchist Black Cross website. Naomi Ullian is no longer welcome in anarchist and radical circles because of snitching, according to the statement.
The Asheville 11 is a group of 11 people charged with various vandalism offenses following a 2010 run through downtown Asheville that resulted in broken windows, banged up cars and such. The criminal charges were recently resolved, the Asheville Citizen-Times reported on Friday.
The 11 were charged after a May Day vandalism spree that caused more than $18,000 in damage to businesses around Battery Park and Grove Arcade. About 30 or 40 people, some dressed in black and swinging hammers, shattered storefront windows and banged up cars as they swept through, according to police.
Authorities said afterward that some of those arrested were loosely connected to an anarchist website and the May Day movement, which marks worker solidarity. Some anarchist groups in Europe used the date to conduct anti-capitalism displays of violence.
The Denver Anarchist Black Cross says its mission is to contribute to the defense of mass movements working for liberation from state and capitalist domination. The statement it posted is only from some members of the Asheville 11. It notes that Ullian met with police six months after the arrests and gave authorities extensive information about members of the group, a grave transgression.
In this statement we would like to carefully divulge some of the transgressions that were made in the conversation she took part in. But please note, that these are not reasons why this conversation was reprehensible. The moment she sat at the table across from the enemy was the moment she lost our trust forever. These are simply examples for those outside of this dialogue to understand the gravity of the situation. …
Naomi has acted in her own self-interest and forgone the ideas of solidarity that others can clearly live by. We do not talk to the police, ever. To do so would mean to make a clear break with those we once called comrade. Naomi has decided that her decisions are forgivable and that she should be allowed to walk amongst us. We disagree. Those who choose to associate themselves with her have that “right”, but must understand what the association of a snitch will bring you.
Does anyone else find it ironic that these “anarchists” are using ostracism and shaming to punish an individual who broke their rules?
That’s really a shame that she informed on others in order to better her own legal situation. Thanks for reporting on it.
You guys are missing the point here.
With this chic getting ousted, that means there is an opening for a new anarchist!
Does anyone know where these auditions will be held?
grove arcade, may 1, 2013
It’s my understanding that an essential part of civil disobedience is to be willing to bear the scrutiny and accept the ramifications for one’s actions. Otherwise, it’s just illegal/criminal behavior. Whether Ullian is guilty of betraying her “colleagues” is a matter for discussion, probably among the Asheville 11 themselves, but it’s a secondary consideration. The actions of the Asheville 11 don’t rise to the level of a political act, because they acted under cover of darkness and attempted to avoid the consequences for their actions. Therefore, they are guilty of nothing more than vandalism, and there is no higher principle at stake for Ullian to betray.
Apparently, there is no room for truth in the anarchist movement. Cowardly people wanting to hide their cowardly acts. All this for what? A broken window and some damaged news stands. Maybe I missed something, like the point?
Uh oh, looks like Naomi is now sentenced to a life of prosperity, normalcy, and productivity. Too bad for her.
Under our law, a person is guilty of Riot in the Second
Degree when, simultaneously with four or more other persons, he
or she engages in tumultuous and violent conduct and thereby
intentionally or recklessly causes or creates a grave risk of causing
public alarm
I know Naomi through mutual friends and shared history and can attest that she is a kind and caring person. I am alsways happy to see her and her warm smile. Being dumped by these fools is probably a testament to her character more than an exclusion from anything noteworthy. I mean, to be warned of “what the association of a snitch will bring you”, really? Do people say stuff like that who aren’t in middle school? Cut the cord Naomi! You can contribute to a better world a lot more without people who believe in throwing rocks through local business windows….
its very weird that you didnt run the story of these people basically being let off the hook totally. 8 of them had to do community service and have no charges what so ever, and the other three are copping to misdemeanor riot (a charge that is totally vague and could generally be applied to any group of drunk people at anytime). And those three who plead to that did not do so because there was any specific evidence against them but only because they had prior records. In fact the Assistant District Attorney admitted in court that while there are numerous videos of groups of anonymous people doing things, there is nothing that directly links any of these 11 with any specific crime. So basically after a media witch hunt it turns out that there wasn’t any substantial evidence what so ever.
everyone who was so quick to assume the guilt of these people have been proven wrong and i hop they feel very very ashamed and will think twice when they declare people guilty before the story gets out.
No more reindeer games for her!
lol, she’s kicked out of the club house now. What a complete bunch of wankers.