A North Carolina magistrate’s office was swarmed Thursday by people hoping to turn themselves in support of the toppling of a Confederate statue in Durham on Monday.
The rally was part of an effort demanding that charges be dropped against four activists, who were already in police custody over the incident, as well as to demonstrate solidarity with them.
Four people who faced warrants, including Raul Mauro Arce Jimenez, surrendered themselves at the Durham County magistrate’s office.
Mass turn-in at the jail today to demand charges be dropped! If you target some of us, you’ll have to arrest all of us! #DefendDurham pic.twitter.com/8n5HIc9FF3
— lieutenant (@ntranloan) August 17, 2017
“Today means unity. Today means strength. Today means community,” Jimenez told the Herald-Sun, a Durham-based newspaper, before turning himself in. “And today means we won’t stop this fight against racism and bigotry and white supremacists.”
Others planning to symbolically surrender themselves to authorities were disappointed when officials at the magistrate’s office blocked them from entering the building, according to newspaper.
Activists denied entry. Only media and people on docket. pic.twitter.com/lxzDeCcaiQ
— Virginia Bridges (@VirginiaBridges) August 17, 2017
Protesters pulled down the Confederate monument Monday night during a protest responding to a violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., over the weekend.
