After Toppling Confederate Statue, Protesters On The Run After Hearing Who’s Coming For Them

The city of Durham, North Carolina, responded after a group of protesters destroyed a Confederate statue on Aug. 14 (video below).

Following violence and unrest in Charlottesville, Virginia, calls to remove Confederate monuments were reignited across the country — prompting a group of protesters in the city of Durham to attempt to remove one on their own.

The attempt began when a woman climbed onto the statue of a Confederate soldier and tied a rope around it. A crowd of people then began to pull the rope and the statue soon fell. Several people ran up to the statue and spit on, kicked and hit it.

Durham police told WNCN that authorities monitored the protest but did not intervene with the removal of the statue because it took place on county property.

“Because this incident occurred on county property, where county law enforcement officials were staffed, no arrests were made by DPD officers,” spokesman Will Glenn told the station in a statement.

Officials for the city quickly responded to the removal in a statement.

Our elected officials and senior staff understand the unrest in our nation and community, particularly following the senseless acts that took place in Charlottesville, VA. We share the sentiments of many communities around the nation that admonish hate and acts of violence as we believe civility is necessary in our every action and response. Governmental agencies dedicated to public safety will continue to work collectively to ensure Durham remains a community of excellence where all of our residents can live peacefully, grow and thrive.

Despite support for the statue’s removal, many criticized the protesters for vandalizing public property.

“It’s about time they start arresting and charging this thugs who think they can do whatever they want…They are not above the law. Come on Politicians get this under control or do you want the blame on President Trump for this to. You are elected to stand up for all citizens not the liberals to the left… Bet things would be different if it was black monuments honoring their heroes. We need to come together and stop this hate,” one Mad World News reader commented on the site’s Facebook page.

“Stand up and enforce the law. If they get punished this would send a message to anyone else that may follow in their footsteps. To jail, no bail out. And if the judges don’t follow our laws out with them too,” another added.

Sources: WNCN, Mad World News/Facebook / Featured Image: Tim1965/Wikimedia Commons / Embedded Images: WNCN