Protesters in Durham, North Carolina, pulled down a nearly century-old statue of a Confederate soldier on Monday evening during a rally against racism. The action came in response to a violent far-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a woman was killed after a car was driven into counter-protesters.
The demonstrators used a ladder and a rope to topple the bronze statue, which stood outside the old Durham County courthouse. A crowd of dozens cheered as the monument fell, with some later kicking it. Isaiah Wallace, a black protester, said he hoped the event would inspire the removal of other Confederate symbols across the country.
North Carolina has a 2015 law that protects Confederate monuments on public property, preventing their removal without state permission. Democratic Governor Roy Cooper condemned the racism in Charlottesville but urged a lawful approach to removing such statues, tweeting: 'There is a better way to remove these monuments.'
After the statue fell, protesters gathered peacefully, with some posing for photos on the toppled figure. Police blocked off the street and observed, filming the scene. The crowd dispersed as darkness fell. Robin Williamson, a local worker, expressed sympathy for the protesters, noting that the political climate under President Donald Trump has emboldened racists.
