UNC Students Protest System's Settlement over Silent Sam

The spot where Silent Sam once stood on McCorkle Place is now covered with fallen leaves, making it impossible to tell exactly where the Confederate statue was before being toppled in 2018. Protesters walked over it on their way to the steps of South Building as part of a demonstration to speak out against the UNC System’s decision to grant the statue and a $2.5 million trust fund to the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

The protest, organized by the campus’ Black Student Movement, largely addressed the students’ concerns over the system giving money to a pro-Confederate group and negotiating in confidentiality.

UNC junior and President of the BSM Chris Suggs said the system’s actions directly support the ideology of white supremacy. He said despite being unable to do anything about the settlement being complete, his organization wanted to show they plan to hold the system’s leadership accountable and not let its actions go unnoticed.

“That was the purpose of this demonstration: we’re listening, we see the racist negotiations taking place, we see the back room [discussions],” Suggs said. “They’re directly attacking students at Carolina [by funding pro-Confederate groups] and we’re going to show them we’re not standing for these decisions.”

Suggs said when protesting at UNC, much of his activism has been addressing the university’s actions. With the UNC Board of Governors at the center of the settlement, which it negotiated before the SCV filed a lawsuit against the UNC System, he said it shows the deep-rooted issues go far beyond just the Chapel Hill campus.

“It speaks volumes that these decisions are not just happening at the university level,” said Suggs, “but there’s an orchestrated effort by our state leaders, state assembly, legislature and the North Carolina Republican party to attack students and show they don’t care about us. It’s not just a UNC thing, it’s a University of North Carolina System thing.”

BSM leaders encouraged other protesters take the microphone at the steps of South Building and express their feelings about the settlement. UNC Student Body President Ashton Martin spoke to the crowd, sharing her opposition and frustration over the Board of Governors’ decision.

Members of the Black Student Movement lead a protest where the Confederate statue Silent Sam once stood.

“I’ve been to a lot of these protests and I’m tired of it,” Martin said. “I can’t believe it’s a year later and we’re still [having to protest against Silent Sam]. I’m trying my best to come up with a plan forward but that’s what I need your help with. I don’t know where we now, but I’m excited to see where we can go because I don’t agree with this plan.”

Another element of the settlement students criticized was the announcement of the results just ahead of the Thanksgiving break. BSM members said they believe the move was strategically made to quell reactions on campus. Suggs said revealing the deal with the SCV when students are preparing for exams was no coincidence.

“I have two finals tomorrow and I’m here protesting when I should be studying,” he said, “because once again, UNC has chosen to make a decision that’s harmful to students. We’re here to be leaders and get a well-rounded education so we can be productive citizens. But the decisions the university system made recently and in the past are showing they don’t want us to be productive citizens. They don’t want us to be civically engaged in the processes affecting our educations and our communities.”

When asked whether his organization would hold a demonstration at the Board of Governors’ meeting on December 13, Suggs declined to comment.

UNC Students Protest System’s Settlement over Silent Sam

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