In the hours after a demonstration supporting Palestine and pushing UNC to divest any financial support of Israel led to a clash with police, Republican leaders from North Carolina shared their reactions to the scenes.

Officials across both the state and federal governments shared thoughts on social media about a pro-Palestine group of students and community members taking down the United States flag at UNC’s Polk Place to replace it with a Palestinian flag. The incident came in the second hour of a rally held by the organization UNC Students for Justice in Palestine, which had also led an encampment protest at Polk Place until UNC Police detained participants and swept the site early on Tuesday. No arrests or citations have been announced by UNC regarding removing the flag, but six demonstrators were charged and 30 others were cited with trespassing stemming from the encampment protest.

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson shared a video thanking UNC administration for its response and efforts to re-raise a U.S. flag on Tuesday afternoon. Speaking directly to the camera, Robinson — who is running for North Carolina governor — described the demonstration as a “disturbing incident.”

“The good news is this,” he said, “law enforcement officials, along with the chancellor — Interim Chancellor Lee Roberts — went out, took down that Palestinian flag and replaced the American flag back where it’s supposed to be. They sent a strong message that’s not going to be tolerated on campus, and I hope that type of strong message continues.”

Robinson added he “would love” that kind of response and dedication to the flag across the state, closing his video message by saying he appreciates those at UNC who kept “peace and security on that campus — continue to ramp that up.”

The post came after Robinson shared a video of demonstrators around the flagpole on social media, which included a clip where it appears some participants throw items at police officers. The lieutenant governor said, if elected as governor, “this lawless nonsense would end on DAY ONE.”

North Carolina Senate Leader Phil Berger said while he supports the right for people to demonstrate in public areas like UNC campus, he said he thought taking down the American flag “crossed a line.” During an interview with conservative talk radio station WTIB, Berger said he believes the people involved should be “condemned.”

“That in some respects, is a claim to that land,” he said. “I can’t imagine the vast majority of people in the state of people in North Carolina supporting that type of activity and to do that in the name of free speech is beyond what I think most folks accept is appropriate free speech.”

Berger later added to reporters on Wednesday he supports Roberts earning the permanent position of chancellor, in part because of the former state budget director’s response to the removal of the U.S. flag.

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis also directly credited Roberts on social media, saying the interim chancellor’s actions differed from other university leaders facing protests — whom Tillis called “mobs.”

North Carolina’s other U.S. Senator also weighed in on Tuesday. Ted Budd shared tweets thanking Roberts for his actions and calling the pro-Palestinian group “pro-Hamas.” He also shared photos and celebrated a group of students who prevented the U.S. flag from touching the ground after protesters removed it a second time. The group is reportedly fraternity brothers and saw widespread support for their actions shared on social media by other Republican congressman — including a GoFundMe started to thank them that raised more than $135,000 across Wednesday.

U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop — who represents North Carolina’s 8th congressional district and is running for state district attorney — also shared photos of the students holding up the flag and commented on the protesters’ actions.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, a UNC-Chapel Hill alumnus, and Attorney General Josh Stein — who is Jewish — have not shared public statements about the events at UNC. The pair were in Charlotte, N.C. on Tuesday to take part in a vigil for the four law enforcement officers killed in a shootout on Monday. Democratic U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee, who represents Chapel Hill in District 4, did not share any public statement on Tuesday, nor did the area’s Democratic representatives in the state legislature.

The escalation of Tuesday’s rally and UNC Police’s response led the university to issue a Condition 2 alert for campus safety, causing classes on the final day of instruction before exams to be canceled. UNC returned to normal operations on Wednesday, with additional barriers constructed around the Polk Place flagpole.

 

Featured photo via Rafael Linhares..

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