Several people were arrested as various crowds gathered Saturday morning around the UNC Confederate monument where a statue known as “Silent Sam” stood until Monday.
As of 1:20 p.m., seven people were arrested in the area of McCorkle Place near the monument area, UNC-Chapel Hill officials said.
Three arrests were for assault, two arrests for assault, destruction of property and inciting a riot. Another arrest was for destruction of property and the seventh arrest was for resisting an officer, according to UNC officials.
As of 12:50 p.m. most of shouting from various protest groups had ceased and people appeared to be milling around the area, which just an hour earlier involved chanting, screaming and some violence.
At times the anti-fascist protesters turned on police — shouting at them for making arrests after protesters grabbed a Confederate flag and tried to set it on fire.
One person was arrested for confronting a man carrying a Confederate flag, another protester was arrested after punching an anti-Silent Sam protester.
UNC-Chapel Hill and Chapel Hill town officials issued a warning Friday about a possible rally and urged students not to attend.
At one point, a group waving Confederate battle flags stood with their back to the monument’s base.
An opposing group stood in front of them chanting – some holding signs that read “Always Antifacist” and “Destroy White Supremacy.”
A group known as “The Oathkeepers” posted online they would be on the UNC campus Saturday morning. On Facebook, an opposing group posted they would show up to “Keep Fascists Out of Chapel Hill.”
At least one protester with a bandana over his face was led away by police.
Around 10:30 a.m. a group of motorcycle riders paraded down Franklin Street as two men with Confederate flags stood on a street corner.
Police led away one man who confronted a man carrying a Confederate flag near the monument.
Another man was arrested after punching an anti-Silent Sam protester
Anti-Silent Sam protesters were also out in force, chanting “Racists go Home” and confronting those who support the monument.
The rally comes after Monday’s toppling of the UNC Confederate monument known as “Silent Sam.”
University officials said that some students and others have received threats since the incident.
Police said parking would be banned along the 100 and 200 blocks of East Franklin Street and the 100 block of Henderson Street.
Any vehicles parked on those blocks after 7 a.m. Saturday will be towed, according to Chapel Hill city officials. Other downtown streets could be closed to traffic and parking could be limited.
