People’s Assembly Values

The Buncombe/Henderson People’s Assembly is a non-partisan coalition of individuals and organizations committed to collaborating, communicating, and mobilizing around advocacy issues related to economic security, dismantling racism, health care for all, quality public education, environmental justice, the right to vote, and equal protection under the law for all people.

Buncombe/Henderson People’s Assembly Values:

•     We believe in economic security including opportunities for living wage jobs, affordable housing, and food security for ALL people and protecting the rights of workers including the right to collectively bargain.

•     We acknowledge our history of oppression and are committed to dismantling racism and eliminating discrimination.

•     We believe in access to health care for all.

•     We support quality public education for every North Carolinian.

•     We promote environmental justice and protecting our natural resources.

•     We believe in protecting the right to vote and open and honest democratic process.

•     We believe in equal protection under the law for everyone regardless of race, class, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, national origin, age, disability status, familial status or veteran status.

The initial group of WNC People’s Assembly planners, in addition to Bovee-Kemper, has included Julie Mayfield, director of the Western Carolina Alliance; Vicki Meath, director of Just Economics of Western North Carolina; Carmen Ramos-Kennedy, advisory board of the Campaign for Southern Equality; Isaac Coleman, founding member, Living Wage Campaign and board member, Clean Water for North Carolina; Elder John Hayes, president of the Asheville Branch NAACP; Jesse Junior, local activist and FM radio host; and Elaine Lite, publisher of Critter magazine.