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PROTESTERS IN NORTH Carolina toppled a nearly century-old statue of a Confederate soldier overnight at a rally against racism.
Activists in Durham brought a ladder up to the statue and used a rope to pull down the Confederate Soldiers Monument that was dedicated in 1924. A diverse crowd of dozens cheered as the statue of a soldier holding a rifle fell to the ground in front of an old courthouse building that now houses local government offices.
Seconds after the monument fell, protesters began kicking the crumpled bronze monument.
“I was a little bit shocked people could come here and come together like that,” said Isaiah Wallace, who is black.
Wallace said he watched as others toppled the statue. He hopes other Confederate symbols elsewhere will follow.
“I feel like this is going to send shockwaves through the country and hopefully they can bring down other racist symbols,” he said.
The Durham protest was in response to a white nationalist rally held in Charlottesville, Virginia, over the weekend. Authorities say one woman was killed on Saturday after one of the white nationalists drove his car into a group of peaceful counter-protesters.
Although the violence in Virginia has prompted fresh talk by government officials about bringing down symbols of the Confederacy around the South, North Carolina has a law protecting them.
The 2015 law prevents removing such monuments on public property without permission from state officials.
In response to the statue in Durham being torn down, Democratic North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper tweeted: “The racism and deadly violence in Charlottesville is unacceptable but there is a better way to remove these monuments.”
After the statue fell, several dozen protesters congregated on the street in front of the old courthouse. Some took pictures standing or sitting on the toppled soldier, in front of a pedestal inscribed with the words “In Memory of the Boys Who Wore The Gray.”
Police cruisers blocked off the street, and officers looked on — some filming. As it got dark, rally participants began to peacefully disperse.
Robin Williamson, who works downtown, arrived in the area about an hour after the statue came down. Williamson, who is black, said he can sympathise with people who are upset with the state of racial discourse in the country.
“People feel that with Donald Trump as leader, racists can be vocal,” he said.
He said that while Confederate monuments have been defaced in other cities, it was surprising to see an entire statue brought down by protesters.
“This is a little bit more intense because they took the whole statue down,” he said.
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Tell us exactly what ‘outcome’ you want Jeffrey, you know, with precise details and all that.
We all know what you don’t want !
@offside again: Jeffery would be more than happy to rip up the Good Friday agreement if given a chance
@Alan Scott: Why not ?
The opening section states
“It is hereby declared that Northern Ireland in its entirety remains part of the United Kingdom and shall not cease to be so without the consent of a majority of the people of Northern Ireland voting in a poll held for the purposes of this section in accordance with Schedule 1.”
IN IT’S ENTIRETY…
Unionists and Loyalists have been let down and betrayed by the breaching of the Belfast Agreement….
The Belfast Agreement was actually “tweaked” to facilitate the NI Protocol
It is not ripped up…it has been shredded
@Alan Scott: Should have been ripped up many yrs ago considering how many times SF/IRA broke the rules in it . Their terrorists caught red handed in Central America training FARC rebels in 2003 .
@offside again: Jeffery wants a wall along the border, a bridge to Scotland, and all Catholic landowners evicted.
He realises the game is up. I wouldn’t be surprised if the British Government haven’t told him take your chances . They’ve had enough.
No donaldson you relic,you and your dup cronies are the only obstacle to the huge benifits the windsor framework provides,lets call a spade a spade,yee just cannot stomach playing second fiddle to michelle o neil,thats the brunt of the matter
@David Clarke: If it is really offers such “huge benefits” then why are so many nationalists in Northern Ireland still calling for a border poll then ???
Take your time ………..
Get to work, Mr Donalson. Stop procrastinating.
Unionism is dead…long live the new Republic!!!!
@liam preston: May the force be with you.
Since Feb 22 they have been trying to get what they want and clearly uk gov are not for turning. Time for DUP to get real
Harming their economy?
The only thing that’s harming their economy right now is the DUP.
Get back to work ya orange jaffa cake…
Tail wagging dog much?
“Not planning for failure” well, well they have already failed the majority of the people by stalling the installation of a Legislative Authority for NI.
The DUP and followers get strength from their sense of isolation…but from what are they isolated ? It seems they have a sense of dread of reprisal that if they were the minority in a 32 county Ireland they would then suffer as the nationalists did in the 6 counties. I think they should be called out on this if only to hear their position.
@JP: No they fear they would suffer as Protestants in the Free State Suffered
The largest exodus in Europe between the 2 World Wars
Sir Jeffrey is the best recruiting Sargent for Sinn Fein
@John Conforms: And you are the best recruiting agent for The Oxford English Dictionary.
It be great if they could be sent back and housed where the originally came from. Imagine the peace we would have on this lovely island. I imagine they would be far happier too. Lads you be even more British if yous move to mainland UK.
Delusional, you simply cannot plan for failure when you have already achieved it. It’s the first an only time I’ve ever agreed with Jeff.
They really are on an alternate Planet.
Why can’t they just be somewhat reasonable. Change is coming, everyone knows it. They need to adapt or extinction looms large. England s interest in our 6 counties is at an end. Poor Jeff is not reading the room. Dodo United Party, we know what happened to the poor old Dodo!!
Jeffrey do you hear the bell calling you from the mainland U.K. ? It’s at Westminter at Parliamentary buildings.
Don’t go blaming the Irish Government on this like you love doing.
Donaldson will have to get it into his head he will be playing second fiddle to Michel for a long time.
Hey ho here we go again
For whatever reason nationalists seem intent on pushing Loyalists back to a war footing.
@Gertrude Gilmore: sorry its the loyalists making all the threats.
The reality is that in a 32 county Peoples Republic DUP would be the largest party after the first election
@John Conforms: the reality is that the DUP is not even the largest party in Northern Irelamd
@John Conforms: not very good at maths there. I think you will find that Sinn Fein would be the largest party.
@liam Preston.
#NotMyRepublic
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