Protesters Pack Durham Courthouse as More Vandalism Surfaces
Dante Emmanuel Strobino, left, chants with Jason Bowers, center, and Kate Bowers, before a protest outside the Durham County Jail where many lined up to "symbolically" turn themselves in for the toppling of the Durham County confederate statue during a Monday protest, but officials at the jail, where the magistrate's office is located, blocked their entry into the buildings, on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Durham, NC. Protesters then supported Strobino, and three others, who then made their first court appearance for being arrested Wednesday for the vandalism. (Casey Toth/The Herald-Sun via AP)
By JONATHAN DREW | The Associated Press
August 17, 2017 at 11:38 am
DURHAM, N.C. — Dozens of demonstrators packed a North Carolina courthouse on Thursday to support people arrested for toppling a Confederate statue, while a monument to Gen. Robert E. Lee was vandalized nearby at Duke University.
The rally at Durham’s jail and court complex began with 100 protesters marching to symbolically surrender to deputies for the toppling of the statue. Four protesters were arrested on outstanding warrants related to the protest that took down the bronze Confederate soldier on Monday. That brought the total number of people arrested in the incident to eight.
At least a dozen others who tried to enter the jail were turned away by deputies who checked their names in a computer and found no warrants.
“I feel a lot of support behind me. I feel powerful. I’m glad that I’m here,” said Elena Everett, who did have an outstanding warrant and turned herself in. “I think everyone needs to be involved in removing symbols of racism from public spaces.”
Several miles away, Duke officials discovered early Thursday that the carved limestone likeness of Lee had been defaced. The statue in the entryway to Duke Chapel had scuff marks on its face and damage to its nose. Lee is one of 10 historical and religious figures depicted there, including Thomas Jefferson.
Duke was reviewing video footage from outside the chapel and hadn’t determined who was responsible.
Duke President Vincent E. Price issued a statement saying he had already been meeting with members of the Duke community to discuss how to deal with strong reactions to the statue.
“For an individual or group of individuals to take matters into their own hands and vandalize a house of worship undermines the right … of every Duke student and employee to participate fully in university life,” he said.
The statues at Duke and in downtown Durham are among several vandalized around North Carolina amid a debate on race stoked by a violent rally in Virginia over the weekend organized by white nationalists. Statues in Wilmington were defaced this week with paint.
The nearly century-old statue of a bronze Confederate soldier in downtown Durham came down Monday night after protesters climbed a ladder, attached a rope and yanked it off its pedestal.
Along with Everett, Aaron Caldwell, Taylor Alexander Jun Cook and Raul Mauro Arce Jimenez turned themselves in Thursday and were arrested. All face felony rioting charges along with misdemeanor counts of damaging property. Investigators say more people could be charged.
While the latest arrests were being processed, dozens filled the hallway in the adjacent courthouse outside a hearing for protesters arrested earlier in the week. They weren’t allowed in the courtroom because the sheriff said there were fire safety concerns.
Scott Holmes, a lawyer representing the protesters, said afterward that the felony rioting charges are too harsh and a bad fit for what happened Monday. He hopes that the district attorney will drop some or all of the counts.
“What happened was not a riot. It was a celebratory mood; there was no violence against people,” said Holmes, who also teaches law at North Carolina Central University. “The deputies who were there felt no need to intervene to protect any persons, and so at most this is an act of vandalism.”
By JONATHAN DREW | The Associated Press
August 17, 2017 at 11:38 am
DURHAM, N.C. — Dozens of demonstrators packed a North Carolina courthouse on Thursday to support people arrested for toppling a Confederate statue, while a monument to Gen. Robert E. Lee was vandalized nearby at Duke University.
The rally at Durham’s jail and court complex began with 100 protesters marching to symbolically surrender to deputies for the toppling of the statue. Four protesters were arrested on outstanding warrants related to the protest that took down the bronze Confederate soldier on Monday. That brought the total number of people arrested in the incident to eight.
At least a dozen others who tried to enter the jail were turned away by deputies who checked their names in a computer and found no warrants.
“I feel a lot of support behind me. I feel powerful. I’m glad that I’m here,” said Elena Everett, who did have an outstanding warrant and turned herself in. “I think everyone needs to be involved in removing symbols of racism from public spaces.”
Several miles away, Duke officials discovered early Thursday that the carved limestone likeness of Lee had been defaced. The statue in the entryway to Duke Chapel had scuff marks on its face and damage to its nose. Lee is one of 10 historical and religious figures depicted there, including Thomas Jefferson.
Duke was reviewing video footage from outside the chapel and hadn’t determined who was responsible.
Duke President Vincent E. Price issued a statement saying he had already been meeting with members of the Duke community to discuss how to deal with strong reactions to the statue.
“For an individual or group of individuals to take matters into their own hands and vandalize a house of worship undermines the right … of every Duke student and employee to participate fully in university life,” he said.
The statues at Duke and in downtown Durham are among several vandalized around North Carolina amid a debate on race stoked by a violent rally in Virginia over the weekend organized by white nationalists. Statues in Wilmington were defaced this week with paint.
The nearly century-old statue of a bronze Confederate soldier in downtown Durham came down Monday night after protesters climbed a ladder, attached a rope and yanked it off its pedestal.
Along with Everett, Aaron Caldwell, Taylor Alexander Jun Cook and Raul Mauro Arce Jimenez turned themselves in Thursday and were arrested. All face felony rioting charges along with misdemeanor counts of damaging property. Investigators say more people could be charged.
While the latest arrests were being processed, dozens filled the hallway in the adjacent courthouse outside a hearing for protesters arrested earlier in the week. They weren’t allowed in the courtroom because the sheriff said there were fire safety concerns.
Scott Holmes, a lawyer representing the protesters, said afterward that the felony rioting charges are too harsh and a bad fit for what happened Monday. He hopes that the district attorney will drop some or all of the counts.
“What happened was not a riot. It was a celebratory mood; there was no violence against people,” said Holmes, who also teaches law at North Carolina Central University. “The deputies who were there felt no need to intervene to protect any persons, and so at most this is an act of vandalism.”
No comments:
Post a Comment