photo credit: sing // Shutterstock
On the campus of University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, about 250 protesters knocked over the school’s controversial statue, Silent Sam. Silent Sam was put up in 1913 to remember the “sons of the University who died for their beloved Southland 1861-1865,” according to UNC’s website. The United Daughters of the Confederacy gave the statue to the university in 1909.
This follows the trend of last year when protesters were removing confederate statutes across the country. Protesters can be seen putting poles and banners around the statue. Once fallen, students celebrated by kicking and throwing dirty on the statue.
In a statement Tuesday morning, in an open letter posted on the school’s official website, UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Carol L. Folt said, “Last night’s actions were unlawful and dangerous, and we are very fortunate that no one was injured. The police are investigating the vandalism and assessing the full extent of the damage.”
One person was arrested for concealing one’s face during a public rally and resisting arrest.
So long #SilentSam pic.twitter.com/lBOkIprCxd
— Ryan Michaels (@RyMiko) August 21, 2018