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DAVIT 12/01/17 SCHILL
UND-CH SERIALS DEPARTMENT
DAVIS LIBRARY CB# 3330
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CHAPEL HILL NC 27599-0001
VOLUME 96 - NUMBER 34 DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 2017 TELEPHONE (919) 682-2913 PRICE: 50 CENTS
Confederate Statue Protesters pack Durham courthouse
By Jonathan Drew
(AP) - Dozens of demonstrators packed a North
Carolina courthouse on Aug. 17 support people arrested
for toppling a Confederate monument, while a statue
of Gen. Robert E. Lee was vandalized nearby at Duke
University.
The rally at Durham’s jail and court complex began
with 100 protesters marching to symbolically surrender
to deputies for toppling the monument downtown on
Aug. 15. Four protesters were arrested on outstanding
warrants related to the protest that took down the bronze
Confederate soldier. That brought the total number of
people arrested in the vandalism to eight.
At least a dozen others who tried to enter the jail were
turned away by deputies who checked their names in a
computer and found no warrants.
“I feel a lot of support behind me,” said Elena Everett,
who did have an outstanding warrant and turned herself
in. “I think everyone needs to be involved in removing
symbols of racism from public spaces.”
Several miles away, Duke officials discovered early
Aug. 17 that the carved limestone likeness of Lee had
scuff marks on its face and damage to its nose. Lee is
one of 10 historical and religious figures depicted in
Duke Chapel’s entryway, including Thomas Jefferson.
Duke was reviewing video footage and hadn’t
determined who’s responsible.
Duke President Vincent Price issued a statement
saying he had already been meeting with Duke
community members to discuss how to deal with strong
reactions to the statue. But he said that vandalizing a
house of worship wasn’t the answer.
The statues at Duke and in downtown Durham are
among several vandalized around North Carolina amid a
debate on race stoked by a violent rally in Virginia over
the weekend organized by white nationalists. Statues in
Wilmington were defaced this week with paint.
The state chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans
issued a statement that it would offer a reward of up
to $5,000 for information about those who damage
statues when “our government fails to act.” The group
also criticized Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper for his call
earlier in the week to remove Confederate monuments
from public property around the state.
In downtown Durham, the nearly century-old statue
of a bronze Confederate soldier came down Aug. 14
after protesters climbed a ladder, attached a rope and
yanked it off its pedestal.
Along with Everett, Aaron Caldwell, Taylor
Alexander Jun Cook and Raul Mauro Arce Jimenez
turned themselves in Aug. 17 and were arrested. All face
felony rioting charges along with misdemeanor counts
of damaging property. Investigators say more people
could be charged.
While the latest arrests were being processed, dozens
filled the hallway in the adjacent courthouse outside a
hearing for protesters arrested earlier in the week. They
weren’t allowed in the courtroom because the sheriff
said there were fire safety concerns.
Scott Holmes, a lawyer representing the protesters,
said afterward that the felony rioting charges are too
harsh and a bad fit for what happened Aug. 14. He hopes
that the district attorney will drop some or all of the
counts.
“What happened was not a riot. It was a celebratory
mood; there was no violence against people,” said
Holmes, who also teaches law at North Carolina Central
University. “The deputies who were there felt no need to
intervene to protect any persons, and so at most this is
an act of vandalism.”
Conf ederate flag clothes banned
by schools 9 new dress code
HILLSBOROUGH (AP) - A school district in North
Carolina has updated its dress code to ban all clothing
that depicts the Confederate flag, swastikas or any Ku
Klux Klan related symbols or language.
News outlets report Orange County Schools announced
the new policy Aug. 14. Parents and students have been
asking the district for months to change the dress code to
ban the flag.
Last month, a proposed policy prohibited students from
wearing clothes that are disruptive, or could reasonably
intimidate students, but stopped short of explicitly
mentioning the Confederate flag.
WNCN-TV asked School Board Chair Stephen Halikotis
about the timing of the change, and if the deadly white
nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, influenced it. He
said government works in a “dinosaur-like way” and that there
was “nothing quick” about the decision.
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Protests continued in Durham over Confederate Statues. Here are some of theprotestors. Artije Photography
Browns players kneel in prayer
during national anthem
By Tom Withers
CLEVELAND (AP) - Kneeling and bowing their
heads, the Cleveland Browns bonded over something
bigger than football.
More than a dozen players formed a circle on the
team’s sideline Monday night and prayed in silent protest
during the national anthem.
The group, which included veterans, rookies, starters
and backups, gathered in front of some water coolers and
behind their teammates who stood on the sideline shortly
before the Browns hosted the New York Giants.
In the aftermath of the recent racially charged conflict
in Charlottesville, the Browns felt compelled to use their
platform to make a difference.
“I wanted to take the opportunity with my teammates
during the anthem to pray for our country,” said tight end
Seth DeValve, one of two white players to participate.
“And also to draw attention to the fact that we have work
to do. And that’s why I did what I did.”
Linebackers Jamie Collins and Christian Kirksey,
running backs Isaiah Crowell, Duke Johnson, TeiTance
Magee and Brandon Wilds, safety Jabrill Peppers,
De Valve, wide receivers Kenny Britt and Ricardo Louis
and defensive back Calvin Pryor dropped to one knee in
a huddle. Rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer, offensive
tackle Shon Coleman, punter Britton Colquitt, defensive
back Jason McCourty and offensive lineman Marcus
Martin stood and supported their teammates by putting
their hands on their shoulders.
Colquitt also placed a hand over his heart as Kirksey
led the group in prayer.
“As professional athletes, in our realm and with our
platform, we can invoke a lot of change,” said McCourty,
who signed with the Browns as a free agent in March
after eight seasons in Tennessee. “Guys are trying to do
something to stand on our platform and show people that
we want to stand up for this country and show that no
matter what your color is, no matter what your background
is, whatever, we can all come together and work together
to make it a better place.”
The protest was the largest so far in a social-
consciousness movement started last season by
quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who became a polarizing
figure for kneeling during the anthem and is currently
out of the NFL. In recent days, Seattle defensive lineman
Michael Bennett and Philadelphia defensive back
Malcolm Jenkins also have called attention to what they
feel is racial injustice in the country.
Durham Committee to
Hold Founder’s Banquet
The Durham Committee on the Affairs of
Black People will celebrate its 82nd Founders’
Anniversary with three events. The first of the
three events on this weekend will be a youth forum
held in the student union on the campus ofNCCU.
Immediately following the forum, a free party for
the students will take place. Saturday morning we
will be hosting our 1st Annual Golf Classic at Fall
Village Golf Course in Durham off Hwy 98. 6 p.m.,
at The Durham Convention Center, located at 301
Morgan Street, Durham, NC 27702. The Keynote
speaker for this event will be Congresswoman
Maxine Waters. The honorees will be Dr. Lorenzo
Lynch and Dr. Howard Fitts.
Oakland running back Marshawn Lynch also has sat
during the national anthem in the preseason, but hasn’t
elaborated on his reasoning.
Browns coach Hue Jackson, who last week clarified
previous remarks that seemed to indicate he was opposed
to any demonstrations, stood behind his players.
“We respect our players; we respect the flag,” Jackson said following
Cleveland’s 10-6 win. “Those guys came to me and talked to me
about it before they ever made a decision to do it. That is the way
we feel about it, and we have talked about this. I said at some point
in time, they may, and they have. I won’t know about the next game
until it happens, but again, this was tonight and we will move on
from there.”
De Valve, who is in his second season out ofPrinceton, said he and
his teammates have had several discussions about recent racial
tensions and other social issues.
He didn’t want to offend anyone with his protest.
“It saddens me that in 2017 we have to do something like that,” he
said. “I personally would like to say that I love this country. I love
our national anthem, I’m very grateful to the men and women who
have given their lives and give a lot every day to this country and to
serve this country, and I want to honor them as much as I can.
“The United States is the greatest country in the world. It is because
it provides opportunities to its citizens that no other country does.
The issue is that it doesn’t provide equal opportunity to everybody.
And I wanted to support my African-American teammates today who
wanted to take a knee. We wanted to draw attention to the fact that
there’s things in this country that still need to change. I myself will
be raising children that don’t look like me, and I want to do my part
as well to do everything I can to raise them in a better environment
than we have right now.”