Seven Arrested in Protests Over Removal of “Silent Sam” at UNC Chapel Hill
Seven protesters were arrested in UNC’s McCorkle Place during a standoff over the removal of the “Silent Sam” confederate statue Saturday in Chapel Hill, NC.
According to NPR, the statue was initially pulled down during demonstrations on Monday where more than 200 protestors and counter protestors rallied over the presence of the statue.
Protestors of both the statue and of its removal were present Saturday and the seven arrests were made “mostly on assault charges” WSOCTV reports.
Footage on social media shows protestors on both sides being struck, held in headlocks, and attempting to light flags on fire.
Over 50 Charlotte police officers were called to the university early Saturday morning where both sides of the debate gathered to protest without permits.
UNC administration deemed the protests “dangerous” and “vandalism” and reported that none of the seven arrested were associated with the university.
The university will put the statue back up in the next 90 days in compliance with state law.
