People Power from rumur on Vimeo.
Last night, after Chancellor Carol Folt recommended storing the toppled Silent Sam—a monument to Confederate soldiers that has stood on the University of North Carolina’s campus for more than a century—in a new $5.3 million facility, which detractors called a shrine to white supremacy, hundreds of protesters gathered in Chapel Hill. Local documentarians Michael Galinsky and Suki Hawley, who have been capturing protests for decades, were there, and they’ve given us permission to share this short.
The INDY’s Cole Villena was on the ground live-tweeting the protest.
After the UNC Board of Trustees announced its proposal for #SilentSam this morning, several anti-Sam groups announced a Protest Against Re-Erecting Silent Sam. I’m on the ground for @indyweek.
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 3, 2018
@Sarah_Willets wrote a story about the proposal earlier today.https://t.co/sBfnouHKwr
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 3, 2018
The aluminum barricades have stood around the Silent Sam pedestal pretty much since the statue came down.
The lights and wooden boards went up earlier today. pic.twitter.com/MQj5Uo1gq8— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 3, 2018
The Facebook event for the anti-proposal demonstration has 500 marked as “Going.” Very few, if any, have shown up to the meeting point, nearby Peace & Justice Plaza.
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 3, 2018
The Facebook event for the anti-proposal demonstration has 500 marked as “Going.” Very few, if any, have shown up to the meeting point, nearby Peace & Justice Plaza.
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 3, 2018
I’ve seen far fewer cops tonight, and I haven’t heard of any pro-Sam groups planning to attend.
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 3, 2018
Should be underway soon. There’s a decent crowd on Franklin Street. pic.twitter.com/9gy4nfVubO
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 4, 2018
“Hey hey! Ho ho! This racist statue’s got to go!”@indyweek pic.twitter.com/oww9oBaHAL
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 4, 2018
Per @Sarah_Willets reporting earlier, UNC BOT proposed that Silent Sam be housed in a new $5.3 million building. pic.twitter.com/H00zVZkZh8
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 4, 2018
It’s the second night of Hanukkah. Tonight’s demonstration kicked off with a menorah lighting pic.twitter.com/79tZNkQvT2
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 4, 2018
There’s a man with a Make America Great Again hat on recording the demonstration. Maya Little: “Yes, you are a fucking Nazi.” pic.twitter.com/iZ5uqM0CUX
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 4, 2018
“Ain’t no power like the power of the people, cuz the power of the people don’t stop.” pic.twitter.com/AzTL1UYcUN
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 4, 2018
Demonstrators now marching down Franklin. pic.twitter.com/Isn186XHwA
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 4, 2018
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 4, 2018
Columbia Street basically shut down near Franklin. pic.twitter.com/NyprDY7A57
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 4, 2018
Lots of demonstrators marching down Cameron. More than I remember seeing at past demonstrations.@indyweek pic.twitter.com/8kAHpmYxS0
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 4, 2018
Marching toward the Silent Sam pedestal (and cops) now.
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 4, 2018
Protesters have reached the barricades.@indyweek pic.twitter.com/UpbSw4gGD5
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 4, 2018
“Who do you protect? Who do you serve?”@indyweek pic.twitter.com/07yTZWJuIq
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 4, 2018
Police removing banners that are held up inside the barricades. You can see one being dragged on the ground.@indyweek pic.twitter.com/nO58GcTdEo
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 4, 2018
Police putting on riot gear.@indyweek pic.twitter.com/TuZDo7ABrB
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 4, 2018
Demonstrators moving away from the barricades to South Road.@indyweek
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 4, 2018
The steps of South Building, where Carol Folt’s office is housed, is surrounded by demonstrators. Things wrapping up.@indyweek pic.twitter.com/bO2gGXpmN3
— Cole Villena (@colevillena) December 4, 2018
