Wanting to do some AVL street photography but this sub has me worried

I haven't frequented Asheville much in recent years and was wanting to do some street photography there, maybe even some shots of the next protest on the 17th. This sub has me worried though, truthfully. The stuff I've read in the past few weeks alone is insane. I've seen druggies taking swings at people and scaring them with home made machetes, women getting groped and/or verbally harassed, assaults on the elderly, etc. I always carry some self defense stuff when I photograph anyway but is it still safe there? Any areas I should stay away from? Thanks.