Joe Bowman wants to focus on Victim’s Rights in Buncombe

Photos – Matt Henson

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BLACK LIVES MATTER

That’s a short way to say that I understand that I operate in criminal justice system that has also been a racist system.  A politician can’t change the system alone, but a brave DA can start to make things better.     Some racism is systemic, for example the “war on drugs” may as well have been called a war on BIPOC people, based on the disparate impact it has had, and continues to have on Black and Brown communities.  Some of that racism is individualized, and personal to Asheville, as we saw in the shameful felonious assault by former officer Chris Hickman on Mr. Johnny Rush, for the insignificant crime of jaywalking.  It was outrageous of the DA to dismiss those charges.  The hard truth of the justice system is that it must be guided by wisdom, love, and courage, or it will do terrible things to people.