One ReOpenNC founder splits from group after disagreement with another co-founder
One of the founders of the movement opposing Gov. Roy Cooper’s stay-at-home order has left the group, citing objections to how one of her co-founders acted at Tuesday’s protest.
Kristen Cochran posted on her Facebook account Wednesday that she is no longer in the ReOpenNC group after a disagreement with co-founder Ashley Smith.
On Tuesday, Smith was one of four people arrested outside the governor’s mansion during ReOpenNC’s third public protest in downtown Raleigh.
“This movement has taken a turn that we were not in agreement with,” Cochran wrote in the post. “Ashley acted on her own yesterday with nearly inciting a riot. I have said from the beginning, we are a peaceful action group and I have carried myself that way and protected our group with every fiber of my being.”
ReOpenNC believes the restrictions Cooper has enacted with his executive orders should be rescinded. Cooper and Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the state’s Department of Health and Human Services, say the moves have helped the state slow the coronavirus’ spread, keeping more people from getting sick and overwhelming the state’s hospitals.
Cooper has extended the state’s stay-at-home order until at least May 8. He presented a three-phase plan that gradually lifts restrictions on residents and businesses as certain benchmarks for testing, cases and hospitalizations are met.
Cochran, who goes by Kristen Elizabeth on Facebook, wrote that she still believes in the group’s principles but she doesn’t like the way the protests have turned uncivil.
“Unfortunately, after many attempts to bring us back to an agreement with the direction of the movement, I was told this is the way it is and if I don’t like it I need to go,” Cochran wrote on Facebook.
Cochran did not agree to an interview with The News & Observer when reached on Facebook Messenger.
But she spoke with the North State Journal, a conservative-leaning publication. She said the group “had a plan” Tuesday, but that Smith “deviated from that plan.”
“Yes, I was on board with that, absolutely, 100 percent,” Cochran told the North State Journal. “That was a civil disobedience measure that we were planning that everyone knew about and she went off and did her own thing.”
Cochran told the North State Journal that when she tried to talk to Smith about it Wednesday, the two could not have a civil conversation.
Later Wednesday night, Smith issued a statement with her response to Cochran’s departure.
“After several conversations regarding the direction ReOpenNC is continuing on, Kristen and I ‘agreed to disagree,’ hence her departure,” Smith said in her statement. “I can easily say she added tremendous value and numerous contributions to our cause and she will be missed.”
On Tuesday, Smith was arrested along with three others when they stepped onto the sidewalk outside the governor’s mansion on Blount Street, violating police instructions. They were charged with violation of the executive order and resisting a public officer. The fourth person also was charged with injury to real property.
After Smith was bailed out of jail, Smith spoke in a Facebook Live message Tuesday night, calling the protest “powerful.”
“What a great day we had at the protest,” Smith said. “Powerful. Just powerful. We were there. We were seen on the first day of the General Assembly. We accomplished our goals. We hit everything I had in my mind that I wanted to see as a result of our protest.”
Cochran said in her message she still believes in the group’s message of opposing the stay-at-home order.
“I encourage anyone who knows this can be accomplished civilly, to continue doing so without affiliation with #ReopenNC,” Cochran wrote. “Ashley has changed the narrative of this movement and I can no longer go along with it.”
North Carolina has at least 10,180 coronavirus cases and more than 380 deaths related to COVID-19, as of Wednesday night.
Wake County is ending its stay-at-home order Thursday night, with some restrictions easing on Friday. The county will follow the state’s regulations, officials said. People are still encouraged to stay home except for essential travel.
This story was originally published April 29, 2020 at 3:47 PM.