Thread by @AvlBlade

So Asheville police's illegal search warrant for Blade journalist Matilda Bliss' phone targeted her for her anarchist views.

The warrant claimed Bliss was linked to "anarchist extremist groups." The evidence? She ran a public social justice event calendar 🧵 #avlgov #avlnews

The warrant, by APD detective Ian Paul Cooper on Jan 19 2022, claimed Bliss had prior knowledge of the Aston Park Build protest, which it tried to frame as an ominous conspiracy, because she had included a public social media post about it on her event calendar #avlgov #avlnews

Asheville Social Justice Schedules, a personal project of Bliss' that assembled links to public announcements of protests, fundraisers and mutual aid, was portrayed by the APD in the warrant as an "anarchist extremist group." No, we are not making this up. #avlgov #avlnews

Post the warrant refers to saw Bliss add some personal comments alongside a link to the public Aston Park Build announcement. She expressed sympathy with the goal of sanctuary camping. The post also included a list of community fundraisers! Truly scary stuff. #avlgov #avlnews

There's no law against a journalist expressing sympathy for a cause. There is also no law against a journalist sharing links to events on social media or even getting a tip a protest is taking place. All part of our job.

But Asheville cops treated it as suspect #avlgov #avlnews

It is not illegal for a journalist - or anyone else - to be an anarchist. Fact that Asheville police believe a reporter publicly supporting abolition of the state is reason enough for a warrant on their phone is something everyone should find chilling... #avlgov #avlnews

There is actually a law prohibiting police searching or seizing a journalists' notes, information and materials - like from covering a protest - unless it's about a crime the reporter committed. But warrant never names Bliss as a suspect #avlgov #avlnews

https://twitter.com/AvlBlade/status/1653430504467714048

Bliss' phone was being searched by the police because of her supposed "links." They didn't like her views and thought she, as a reporter, might have info on protesters they were charging with bogus "felony littering" charges.

Illegal af, to put it mildly. #avlgov #avlnews

Remember that the warrant was filed nearly a month after her arrest on a trespassing charge "for videotaping" (the cops' words) a police crackdown. @CityofAsheville knew damn well Blisss was a journalist but the warrant failed to mention it. #avlgov #avlnews

City hall and its cops treat any organizing, political activity or journalism they don't like as a crime. Searching a reporter's phone just because she's an anarchist who criticized them is only the latest.

This is Asheville. This is why we are abolitionists. #avlnews #avlgov

P.S. - Here's Asheville city attorney Brad Branham, on Jan. 25, 2022 (at 1:31:45) noting the federal Privacy Protection Act protects journalists' work. At the same time the APD was blatantly violating that law: youtube.com/live/7zwTLEYhi… #avlgov #avlnews