The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill has put a new meaning behind their controversial Silent Sam statue, which frustrated protesters took down to the ground on Monday night.
Nearly 250 protesters gathered on campus chanting, “I believe that we will win” as the historical monument took to the floor in what has been a series of controversial statues being removed from universities across the country.
In
video footage captured by the Washington Post, protesters can be seen on UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus during the middle of the night with poles and banners right before the Silent Sam statue is toppled to the ground, and is immediately surrounded by kicks and cheers.
The video quickly cuts to students chanting, “No cops, no plan, get rid of Silent Sam.”
The UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor, Carol L. Folt, released a statement on the “divisive statue” on Tuesday, that read:
“Last night’s actions were unlawful and dangerous, and we are fortunate that no one was injured.”
So long
#SilentSam pic.twitter.com/lBOkIprCxd
— Ryan Michaels (@RyMiko)
August 21, 2018
Despite the events that took place on Monday, it comes as no surprise according to some and was a ticking time bomb. The school official noted that the statue has been a pinpoint of uneasiness for some time now.
“The monument has been divisive for years, and its presence has been a source of frustration for many people, not only on our campus, but throughout our community,” Folt said in the school’s message.
According to the
Southern Poverty Law Center, at least 110 monuments have been removed from 22 confederate states and the District of Columbia in the last three years alone, and counting.
A message from Chancellor Folt on the Confederate Monument:
https://t.co/Qp42b6410P pic.twitter.com/T3HoBCEfXw
— UNC-Chapel Hill (@UNC)
August 21, 2018
