On Saturday, October 11, while canvassing with residents at Evergreen Ridge Apartments in Asheville, the car of Asheville Area Tenants Union (AATU) Lead Organizer Jen Hampton was set on fire and completely destroyed. Jen was on site to support tenants who have been raising concerns about mold and other serious problems in the building.
The investigation is still underway, and not all details are known. But here is what we do know:
- During earlier canvassing efforts, a maintenance worker verbally threatened Jen and other volunteers. On October 4, he warned canvassers that the next time they saw him, it would be “in a black ski mask.”
- That same maintenance worker appeared to photograph Jen’s vehicle and was seen near the car on the day it was burned.
Incidents like this underscore why tenant organizing is so critical, and why communities must stand together against retaliation. Here are two ways you can take action right now:
1. Support Organizer Safety and Recovery
AATU has launched a fund to support safety and recovery for organizers who face harm while standing with tenants. The first priority is helping our organizer whose car was destroyed in what appears to be retaliation for tenant advocacy.
Please consider donating to help Jen recover.
→ Donate to Fund
2. Stand With Evergreen Ridge Tenants
Residents of Evergreen Ridge are calling on their landlord to sign a binding agreement protecting them from retaliation as they advocate for safe and healthy housing.
Add your name to the petition and show that tenants are not alone.
→ Sign Petition
Tenants need clear, enforceable protections—now more than ever—to ensure that organizing for safe living conditions is not met with intimidation or violence.
If you believe tenants should be able to speak up without fear, we invite you to become a recurring supporter of AATU’s work. Steady monthly support strengthens our ability to respond quickly to threats, provide emergency resources like temporary relocation or lock changes, and remain present with tenants for as long as it takes to secure their safety.
Together, we can ensure that every tenant has the power—and the protection—to demand the homes they deserve.
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