Less than a week removed from the last rally on UNC’s campus, around 300 Silent Sam supporters and opponents once again met at McCorkle Place.

Three individuals were arrested during the rally: two for affray and a third for resisting an officer. Police dispersed pepper fogger twice during the evening “to maintain order,”the university said, while escorting Silent Sam supporters out of McCorkle Place and taking individuals into custody. Those individuals were later transported to Hillsborough.

That brings the total number to 17 charged since Silent Sam was torn down on August 20.

Supporters of the Confederate monument organized a “twilight service” that was set for Thursday evening. It was set up by Alamance County Taking Back Alamance County, the same group that has organized raisings of large Confederate flags and organizing pro-Confederate protests in Alamance and Orange counties. The Southern Poverty Law Center has listed ACTBAC has a hate group in the past.

Anti-Silent Sam protesters countered by setting up a “dance party” at McCorkle Place at the same time.

UNC officials sent out a notice earlier in the week urging residents to stay away from McCorkle Place. A heave police arrived well in advance, setting up a large amount of barricades around the monument.

The two groups met on campus on Thursday evening at the site of the pedestal on which Silent Sam once stood, but were quickly separated by police. Around 50 ACTBAC members were shepherded into the barricade by police when the group arrived on campus.

Upon seeing the Confederate supporters, large crowds broke out into chants of “Nazis go home” and “F***, you Nazis.” ACTBAC unfurled a large Confederate flag when they got inside the barricade, which drew a chorus of boos from their opponents on the other side.

ACTBAC members were escorted out of the barricade by police shortly after 9 p.m. It was at this time that police deployed pepper fogger for the first time to disperse the surrounding crowd.

The spray hit both protesters and journalists that were covering the event. UNC later released a statement saying no injuries were reported.

Chants of, “Who do you protect, who do you serve?” from protesters be heard immediately following this incident.

Related Stories
None