Journalists or Trespassers? | David Forbes and Matilda Bliss of the Asheville Blade

On Christmas night of 2021, Asheville Police descended on Aston Park to clear out a couple dozen people, their tents and other belongings after a city-imposed 10pm curfew. Among those arrested were two people wearing press passes from the Asheville Blade. They say they were in the park covering what had been billed to them as a protest about how the city treats its homeless. Now, Veronica Coit and Matilda Bliss face an April 19 court date on charges of trespassing.

Bliss and Asheville Blade founding editor David Forbes talk with host Matt Peiken about their coverage of homelessness in Asheville, the events of the night Bliss and Coit were arrested and what they believe the existing charges reveal beneath Asheville's progressive reputation.