From Staff Reports 

Following the Nov. 8 election of Republican Donald J. Trump as president of the United States and some alleged comments and actions by his supporters in the aftermath, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, a Democrat, issued the following statement on hate speech on Nov. 14:

“A number of people have contacted me in the past week to tell me about incidents of hate speech in our community.”

“I am disheartened to learn that members of our minority and LGBT communities have been the victims of hate speech, harassment and intimidation. These disgraceful actions will not be tolerated in Asheville.”

“Asheville’s people are accepting, open-minded and respectful. As a community, we have an even greater challenge to come together with kindness and compassion for each other.”

“I call on every individual to demonstrate that intolerance and hatred will not be accepted. As mayor of Asheville, I am dedicated to maintaining Asheville as an equitable and inclusive city where we can acknowledge our differences, and allow everyone to feel safe and respected.”

To that end, the mayor cited several complaints about incidents of hate speech in the community to local news media.

Among the complaints Manheimer cited were the following:

• An African-American dance instructor harassed by men in a truck — one of whom reportedly yelled “Trump 2016” — while he was at a fast-food restaurant.

• A pastor who also is co-owner of a Edna’s of Asheville coffee shop and café (in North Asheville) who said said he has was called “a faggot” twice in the week after Trump’s election. He told of another pastor who was called “a Dyke pastor” — and that “when Trump gets in, you’re going to wither and die.”

• A black North Asheville woman who works as a technician in the medical field  said she was shopping at a Weaverville Ingles supermarket when two men behind her in the checkout line started saying demeaning things to her. The matter received much attention and action on Facebook.

 The woman stated that one man commented that “somebody got their food stamps today,” while another remarked about out-of-wedlock children being supported by “other folks” who have to “bust their ass.”

The woman reported that the cashier offered to call security or the manager, but that she said “no” and gave him $40 to pay for the men’s beer and other groceries. Then one said that the “only help her ass need is a job and a chastity belt, by God. I can’t wait ‘til Trump takes over this train so we can make this country great again.”

In the parking lot, one man yelled to her, “I would thank you,” using a racial slur, “but... you owe us that and some more, and soon things will be back to how they should be.”

The woman added that two other people besides the cashier offered to help, but her son said, “Mama, why you make him mad, taking too long with all them groceries.”

Asheville Police Department spokeswoman Jerri Jameson told local news media in mid-November that there had been no reported incidents “of hate speech or hate-motivated crimes since Nov. 8.”

Meanwhie, Trump’s election victory triggered several anti-Trump rallies in downtown Asheville for at least two nights afterward. 

While other major cities across the U.S. saw protests against Trump’s presidential election win, Asheville’s event took a different twist.

Instead of turning to violence, protesters gathered Nov. 10 and held a candlelight vigil to speak out — peacefully — against Trump at Vance Monument downtown.

As it got darker, the crowd grew and, one by one, individuals stepped up to voice their thoughts and feelings. 

Many expressed their concern that Trump will follow through on campaign promises regarding minorities, immigrants, the environment, reproductive rights and other issues. A number of protesters told local news media that they were offended by many of Trump’s comments on those issues.

“A victim of sexual assault said she hasn’t felt this much anxiety in 40 years,” Asheville’s WLOS-TV (ABC Channel 13) reported. “One woman said her daughter is getting passports to move her African-American and Latino grandchildren out of the country.”

While Trump will be the president, vigil organizer Charla Schlueter told reporters that she wanted to show he does not have a mandate.

“I have always believed in holding our candidates’ feet to the fire,” Schlueter told WLOS. “That’s incredibly important to keep them accountable.

While President Barack Obama, Trump and defeated Democratic rival Hillary Clinton called for unity following the election results, some attendees of Asheville’s gathering said the vigil is a step on that path.

“I think unity is why we’re here tonight,” Micah Jean Massie told WLOS. “We’ve got to come together as a country and heal because there’s so much upset on both sides.”

Towards the end of the vigil, many attendees yelled at the top of their lungs as a kind of communal venting, WLOS reported.

At a second rally Nov. 12, hundreds of protesters gathered to voice their opposition to Trump in downtown Asheville. 

They gathered in front of the federal courthouse and marched down Patton Avenue to Pack Square in front of Vance Memorial, chanting such slogans as “Love Trumps Hate,” “This is what democracy looks like,” and “Not my president.”