A group of protesters toppled the “Silent Sam” statue dedicated to Confederate soldiers on the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill campus Monday evening.
In a statement, the university said it is be investigating the “vandalism” incident that took down the monument that was erected in 1913.
“Tonight’s actions were dangerous, and we are very fortunate that no one was injured,” the university said in a statement. “We are investigating the vandalism and are assessing the full extent of the damage.”
A statement about the Confederate Monument at UNC-Chapel Hill pic.twitter.com/7D45yiAAeb
— UNC-Chapel Hill (@UNC) August 21, 2018
The university said that approximately 250 protesters gathered to remove the statue, following request by students, faculty, and alumni to school officials to have the monument removed from campus, according to the Associated Press.
The Daily Tar Heel covered the event, sharing photos and videos on Twitter, including an image where, before the statue was toppled, it was covered with a cloth that said “For a World Without White Supremacy.”
Protesters shout, “Next up, Charlottesville.” pic.twitter.com/NWSH7wGPSL
— The Daily Tar Heel (@dailytarheel) August 21, 2018
In a pair of tweets, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said he has been in contact with local law enforcement and UNC officials about the rally. “The Governor understands that many people are frustrated by the pace of change and he shares their frustration, but violent destruction of public property has no place in our communities,” he said.
Governor Cooper has been in contact with local law enforcement and UNC officials regarding tonight’s rally and appreciates their efforts to keep people safe. 1/2
— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) August 21, 2018
The episode comes after the one-year anniversary of the Aug. 12, 2017, Unite the Right rally, which was organized to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and sparked a national conversation about what to do with Confederate monuments around the country.
The protest resulted in the death of counter-protester Heather Heyer, who died after a self-identified neo-Nazi drove a vehicle into a crowd. Virginia State Police Troopers Lt. H. Jay Cullen III and Trooper-Pilot Berke M.M. Bates were also killed in a helicopter crash while policing the event.
