Protesters topple Confederate statue during Durham rally

[bathroommonkey76]

DURHAM, N.C. — A group of protesters in Durham toppled a Confederate monument Monday evening.

Protesters chose to gather near the courthouse for a reason, calling the Confederate Soldiers Monument a symbol of oppression and racism.

Several men used a ladder to reach the top of statue, which had been sprayed with cooking spray by authorities to make it more difficult to climb, and it was pulled down with a strap.

"To call attention to how many states in the south still have these Confederate monuments, these symbols that are emboldening and giving strength to the Nazis and the KKK," said demonstrator Qasima Wideman.

Wideman said symbols like the Confederate statue feel like a personal attack.

"The state is at war with me and with people like me," Wideman said. "Seeing the events this weekend made me feel like this is really a war."

Link to tweet

Police did not step in when the ladders went up against the statue. The Durham Police Department said that no arrests were made by officers at the scene because the Durham County Sheriff's Office has jurisdiction over all county buildings and landmarks, including the courthouse where the monument was toppled.

In 2015, the General Assembly passed a state law that prevents the removal or relocation of any monument or memorial unless lawmakers pass legislation to allow it.

Link to tweet

Read more:

http://www.wral.com/protesters-topple-confederate-statue-during-durham-rally/16880592/

[dalton99a]

1. There is a better way to remove them: Blow them up

like what the U.S. Army did in Nuremberg

[bathroommonkey76]

3. I'm happy to see my neighbors here in NC

taking them down with their own hands- I hope this continues throughout the year.

[Berlin Expat]

6. Well, blowing up a statue in an area

with people living there might not be such a good thing. Pulling them down is fine.

Now if there's something that needs to be blown up, it's the carving on Stone Mountain, GA. The Confederate's "Mt. Rushmore".

That would be appropriate to blow up.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Mountain#Confederate_Memorial

[gopiscrap]

13. flying concrete could be dangerous

but if there was a roped off area and public warning that would actually be fun to see

[Bladewire]

2. Taking back America!

"...for liberty and justice for ALL"

[SammyWinstonJack]

4. +1000000!

[IPASCUL]

5. PRIDE

As a founding member of Duke University's SDS chapter (late 1960s) watching that statue being pulled down by a primarily college age multiracial crowd of peaceful protesters was very satisfying. The fact that there were no arrests shows that times have changed positively in Durham over the last 50 years. Back then we would have been tear gassed. Good Work. Follow through in 2018 and 2020 in the national elections. The Grand Old Hypocrisy Party needs to be put out to pasture. North Carolina needs to resume being a Blue state. I hope the SDS chapter is still active. If it isn't it needs to be reactivated.

[rzemanfl]

11. Welcome to DU. n/t

[gopiscrap]

12. welcome to DU

[Lokilooney]

15. Actually multiple people are facing felonies

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/charges-sought-toppled-confederate-statue-49226601

It's usually always best to go the legal albeit slower rout for a more permanent solution.

Also, welcome to DU as well!

[sharedvalues]

7. I hate racism, but we should use legal means

No need to go outside the law to take these statues down.

The difference between us and the GOP base is that we are peaceful and we respect America and the law. We can use the legal and political system to get these statues down.

[obamanut2012]

8. They are not able to take legal means to do so -- it is literally against the law

The gerrymandered to hell fascist state leg passed a law forbidding cities and towns to remove Confederate monuments and memorials.

Durham is a blue as hell city, and also majority minority. With a lot of angry white liberals and POC.

So, whether any of us agree with it or not, I understand why they did it, and why they didn't use legal means. They cannot.

[Amishman]

9. Then protest, put up signs, or even cover the thing with a tarp

Illegal destruction is not the answer.

I'm expecting paint or acid to be used against civil rights statues in retaliation.

We need de-escalation of the violence. Between Charlottesville and the Scalise shooting, things are getting out of hand all around.

[dalton99a]

10. Laws are made by people in power to maintain the status quo

Citizens have a right and duty to take action when laws are unjust.

Being nice and polite to Nazis ain't cutting it - history is full of tragic examples

[NobodyHere]

14. I have to agree with you on this one

[DinahMoeHum]

16. ". . .it isn't nice to block the hallways. . ."

' . . .It isn't nice to go to jail,
There are nicer ways to do it,
But the nice ways always fail.
It isn't nice, it isn't nice,
You told us once, you told us twice,
But if that is Freedom's price,
We don't mind. . ."

Malvina Reynolds - It Isn't Nice