Members of the Asheville Homeless Network plan a parade to "promote dignity and respect for the homeless," tomorrow, Oct. 26 at 2 p.m.

The event starts with a rally at Pritchard Park and a walk to City Hall, says organizer Raven Al'Rashid. She notes the hope of making "a more public voice for the issues of the homeless and homelessness here in Asheville."

Al-Rashid explains that a recent cartoon in Xpress by Brent Brown was a particular concern to the group. "It is hard enough out on the street without people thinking you are monsters," she says.

In the cartoon, Brown compared homeless people to the Zombie pub crawl held downtown. "We are not monsters, and we invite Mr. Brown to join the parade and educate himself on the real issues," said Al'Rashid.

Another of the parades' organizers, Noah Harbin points out "Yes, homelessness is a problem. Homeless people are not the problem, only the symptom."