Durham Activists Turn Themselves in to Police in Solidarity With Those Arrested for Toppling Statue
On Monday activists in Durham, North Carolina pulled down a statue of a Confederate soldier in the city, in response to the recent deadly white-nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Soon after, the Durham Sheriff started arresting protesters who allegedly participated in the toppling of the statue. But on Thursday morning, dozens of people rallied against the charges and attempted to turn themselves in as well, in a moving show of solidarity.
Shortly afterward, deputies reportedly began raiding the houses of those believed to be involved in the demonstration and arrested four people, including North Carolina Central University student Takiya Thompson. I chose to do that because I am tired of living in fear. I am tired of white supremacy keeping its foot on my neck and the neck of people who look like me, Thompson said before her arrest. I was inspired by a history of black activists and history of black organizing.
In multiple videos and images posted to Twitter on Thursday, activists gathered around the Durham courthouse and marched towards the city jail to demand the charges be dropped and to try to turn themselves in, too. Protesters also spoke of the importance of solidarity, and of the danger of authorities targeting anti-racist freedom fighters.
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