Ashley Smith, mother of four and Reopen NC activist, spoke with Mark Meckler, Tea Party co-founder and political activist, on his podcast, "Fighting To Reopen America."
The lifelong North Carolina resident founded Reopen NC with a group of girlfriends after Governor Roy Cooper shut down restaurants and bars, with the exception of takeout or delivery orders.
“Right away, Governor Cooper closed restaurants and bars except takeout, before the stay-at-home order was put in place. I’m a registered Independent, I’m a libertarian," Smith said. "The idea of being told by the Governor in Raleigh, four hours from my home that I can’t go eat at a restaurant or a restaurant can’t open their business or that a church can’t hold services, this really goes against my grain.”
She reached out to senators and representatives of her local and county governments after hearing that the governor was not acting with the concurrence of the Council of State.
“Our Lieutenant Governor came out and said ‘we did not vote in favor of closing restaurants and bars’,” said Smith.
On April 7, Smith and a few of her lifelong girlfriends banded together and launched Reopen NC on Facebook. That first day 150 members joined. By April 9, there were 5,000, and as of May 7, the group has 75,200 members.
The group has held several rallies to protest Governor Cooper's executive order, and Smith said that during the first of those rallies, a small group met where they knew the governor was holding administrative meetings, contacting Raleigh Police to determine the lawful protest procedures. They were told no permit was needed.
“These were moms with babies, business owners. We stayed by our cars, honking every 15 minutes, for five seconds at a time,” Smith said.
After an hour, Raleigh police officers told the group that they had to leave, or be arrested.
Police ultimately arrested on woman on a charge of violating an executive order, Smith told Meckler, but did not name the woman, whom she called a “hero of this cause.”
“When she was arrested, her statement was, ‘I have the right to peaceably assemble. God Bless America,” said Smith.
Not long after, Raleigh Police tweeted that protesting is a non-essential activity and doubled down on that statement. An attorney took on ReOpen NC, pro-bono, and sent a demand letter to the governor’s office asking for clarification of protesting as a prohibited activity. Smith said that state senators began questioning that too. Governor Cooper subsequently admitted that protesting is legal, but asked protesters to observe social distancing.
She also told Meckler that the second protest grew to more than 1,000 individuals, many of whom wore masks and/or gloves and observed social distancing. But not all did. She spoke of people wanting to shake hands.
“I can’t imagine that we’ve come to a place in America where shaking hands is illegal in our country,” Smith said.
As for the protests themselves and reactions of some to the stay-at-home orders, Smith had this to say:
“I would say that the everyday people are going to be heard. It’s time. This is the rebellion our nation is born out of and this is proof that spirit is alive and well. The people who have come together are the everyday blue collar and white collar moms and dads. Everyday Americans from all walks of life.”
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