Durham (NC) protesters topple Confederate statue outside courthouse

[Princess Turandot]

Source: ABC11 Durham NC

DURHAM, North Carolina (WTVD) -- Durham protesters rushed and toppled a Confederate statue outside the courthouse on Monday evening.

As they whipped into a frenzy outside the old courthouse, they approached the monument and threw some sort of nylon rope around it, bringing the soldier to the ground. After desecrating the monument, protesters marched down to block Roxboro Street at Main Street.

The protesters later marched to the site of the new Durham Police headquarters, which is under construction.

Durham Police remained close by but kept their distance from the protesters.

Read more: http://abc11.com/politics/durham-protesters-topple-confederate-statue-outside-courthouse/2308015/

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Edited to add: While the police were in the vicinity of the statue protest, they did not intervene when it was being pulled down or afterwards, before the group moved on.

There's a video of some of the proceedings on the web page. From the reporter's twitter feed:

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You can see the statue here in Street View: https://goo.gl/maps/4ikSanYfntB2

Note that this courthouse also had monuments to the soldiers in WW1, WW2 and the Korean War, squeezed together on a lawn to the other side of the steps.

[dalton99a]

1. And that's how it's done

Good job.

[riversedge]

3. Message sent!!

[dalton99a]

4. Yep.

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

2. I do not support this

Vigilante type destruction.

[pangaia]

6. I don't either.

[customerserviceguy]

8. Exactly

and equating police with Klansmen is dangerous, too.

I would not be surprised to see some right winger nut cases do the same thing to statues of black leaders.

It's important that the decision makers in society come to the conclusion on their own that they need to deal with these, like South Carolina did in taking down the Confederate flag after the Charleston shooting.

[MichMan]

13. They have just been given a free pass to do exactly that nm

[customerserviceguy]

16. Yes

and we should let that process play out. It might be quick in some places, and it might take a bit more doing in others.

And it would prevent the statues from being re-erected by people pissed off about it being done the way that it was done, only the next time, they'll fortify the thing considerably better.

[X_Digger]

9. Agreed. Removing a symbol does not remove the hate, the symbol just changes. n/t

[rickford66]

12. They could have just painted it pink.

[adigal]

23. Really? Cause if your town wont take a racist crap,statue down

Sometimes you just gotta do it. It's like breaking a car window cause it's hot and a dog is inside.
See??

[Bladewire]

5. More video of the event...

Power to the people, ignore fake outrage posters trying to divide us

[GulfCoast66]

19. Well now.

I am opposed to illegal actions like this. Sorry you feel that fellow liberals disagreeing with this equals trying to divide us. But if you support illegal destruction of public property then I am happy to be divided from you.

Taking down these monuments to racism thru illegal neans will not help our cause. Doing so throuugh legal means like here in Orlando will bolster our message.

Have a nice evening.

[Bladewire]

20. Shame you think only Liberals are against racism. Are you American?

Where did you learn that only Liberals are against racism and worshipping of statues as idols? The Bible disagrees with you.

Your "offense" will not divide us

[adigal]

24. This is why liberals will get beaten by these Nazis

We don't want to hurt the feelings of Nazis.

[Bladewire]

25. ☝️ Heather Heyer died for our cause

We aren't submissive to cucks we fight

https://s.yimg.com/iu/api/res/1.2/u1nJqWodwdW9qzelGfIFag--~C/cm90YXRlPWF1dG87dz05NjA7YXBwaWQ9eXZpZGVv/

[adigal]

26. Im a feisty resister

I think we need to start fighting fire with fire.

[Bladewire]

29. ☝️Unleash your power!

[riversedge]

7. Joy on msnbc reporting on this now

[yardwork]

10. I disagree with this violence and vandalism.

This will backfire. It makes it easy for people to ignore the horrific violence perpetrated by the right wing. Even though this is on a completely different scale, most people won't bother to think about the difference. We get into "both sides do it" and ustice goes down the drain.

I urge protesters to remain non-violent. It's the strongest way.

[Bladewire]

21. ☝️ Trying to divide by manufactured outrage

No American sees violence in a statue being legally moved.

Are you American?

[7962]

11. I'm happy to see many here are disturbed by this. Its ridiculous.

Serves the opposite purpose & emboldens the far right.
I remember the Taliban & ISIS knocking down statues they deemed offensive too

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

14. Yes yes yes BRAVO

😀

[Worktodo]

15. Yeah this isn't helping

This just confuses the narrative and hurts the cause of those making progress to remove monuments via democratic processes.

[Red Mountain]

18. I think it's regrettable from a historical perspective but....

I also remember the statues of Lenin and Saddam coming down.

The alt-right (I hate the term.....nazis, klan, etc.....whatever it works) needs to realize it isn't negotiating from a position of strength. The alt right sympathizers in local and state governments also need to see the light of day.

They want their idols? Better enter into a discussion that persuades the majority.

[msongs]

17. violent vandals attack property not belonging to them nt

[Coventina]

22. As an Art Historian I cannot and will not ever support this.

Take them down and store them away, but a mob bent on wantonly destroying things is never a good idea.

[riversedge]

27. Protesters are taking pictures around the fallen statue. #Durham

Women's March and 2 others liked
Derrick Lewis‏ @DerrickQLewis 4h4 hours ago

Protesters are taking pictures around the fallen statue. #Durham

Link to tweet

[The_Casual_Observer]

28. Oh lets all be polite and nice! Bullshit, the only thing that

Nazis understand is force. Its rude and impolite but it now that goddamn statue is gone, probably saving the life of another good person. Fuck the statue and everything it represents.

[crosinski]

30. The statue vs the people.

I support acts of civil disobedience when they're in defiance of an unjust law. When it comes to supporting the law above all else, you gotta be real sure that law was made with no ulterior motives. The state law that defied the town's desires set this stage.