****UPDATE: Durham authorities began reopening roads to traffic just after 3:30 Friday afternoon.****

Social media rumors began circulating Friday morning that white supremacists and members of the KKK were planning to hold a rally in downtown Durham, where a Confederate monument was pulled down by protesters earlier in the week.

That has led to hundreds of anti-KKK protesters to take to the streets in downtown Durham.

Reports from the scene say that the large crowd is made up entirely of the protesters and there has been no sign of any organized white supremacist rally.

While more rumors were being pushed that a permit had been granted for a KKK rally at four o’clock Friday afternoon, the City of Durham’s twitter account relayed the message that no permit had been issued.

Several local businesses and government buildings downtown closed early due to the anticipated protest and counter protest. This is following a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, last weekend that resulted in the death of 32-year-old Heather Heyer when an alleged white supremacist drove his car into a large crowd of counter protesters. More than a dozen others were injured.

Durham Police are asking motorists to avoid the downtown area. Authorities say several roadways have been closed off in the downtown area due to the large number of protesters.

The Durham Sheriff’s Office is asking that social media users wait on verified information before sharing rumors that spread unfounded reports.

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein released the following statement on the protest:

People are peacefully protesting in support of equality and justice. Like them, I believe that racism adn white supremacy are wrong. We have more work to do to live up to the ideal of equality, and I join those who are committed to making this ideal a reality for all Americans.

This story will be updated with more information as it is made available.

Related Stories
‹
On Air Today: Bricks & Minifigs, Celebrating One Year of LEGO® in Durham!
Aaron welcomes Anne and Demetrius Grandel of Bricks and Minifigs Durham, to help celebrate their one-year anniversary in business.
An Environmental Justice Test Case for Trump’s EPA: A Creek That Smells Like Death
By Lisa Sorg, Inside Climate News On a summer afternoon in Burton Park, hip-hop throbs from a car stereo over the backbeat of a basketball slapping on concrete. The sun bakes a grid of identical brick buildings, whose wheezing window air conditioners can barely keep pace with the 96-degree heat. Three young boys laugh and […]
Durham Tech Announces Contract Extension for President J.B. Buxton Through 2029
Durham Technical Community College President J.B. Buxton received a contract extension ahead of the new academic year, with his tenure now set to run to at least 2029.
Durham Teen Named as Suspect in Chapel Hill Armed Carjacking, Police Share Photos of Other
The Chapel Hill Police Department named a Durham teen as a suspect in an armed carjacking which took place early Saturday morning, and shared photos of a person of interest.
Orange County Sheriff's Office: Sex Offender Arrested, Charged Over Child Porn
An Orange County resident and sex offender faces several counts of sexual exploitation of a minor following an investigation by North Carolina law enforcement and Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Days After Historic Rain, Chapel Hill and Durham Under Another Flash Flood Warning
Many areas of Orange County, Chatham County and the rest of central North Carolina are again under a flash flood warning on Wednesday.
PHOTOS: 'No Kings' Rallies in Orange County, Durham Draw Thousands
Joining in with "No Kings" rallies across the country on Saturday, many Orange and Durham County community members took part in local protests.
'Where Do We Draw the Line?': NC Legislation Targets Public School Libraries
In this legislative session, North Carolina Republican lawmakers sponsored bills that would allow more control over public school libraries.
Police: Hillsborough Woman Dies After Car Wreck Along I-85 in Durham
Durham Police are investigating a fatal crash that happened near the I-85 and U.S. 15-501 exchange and killed 39-year-old Claudia Lopez.
Chapel Hill Police Identify, Charge Third in High-Speed Chase and Shooting From January
Chapel Hill Police delivered 17 charges stemming from the Jan. 25 shooting to 19-year-old Maurice Keys as he was held in Durham County.
›