Photo Essay: White Supremacists Come to Silent Sam Site, Scuffles Ensue

By Jenny Warburg | August 27, 2018 12:03 pm

On Monday, August 20, activists at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill toppled a statute that was a monument to the pro-slavery Confederate cause in America’s Civil War. The statue, nicknamed “Silent Sam,” depicts a Confederate soldier.

Later that week, Right Wing Watch’s Jared Holt caught wind of plans by far-right neo-Confederate groups to gather in protest at the site of the statue’s vacated pedestal.

The pro-Confederacy activists were met by a vocal group of anti-racism/anti-fascism protesters, who aggressively sought to obscure the flags and imagery of the far-right demonstrators with signs decrying white supremacy.

Several scuffles broke out between the two groups; seven people were arrested by the time the day was over.

At this time, the statue remains in storage.

August 25, 2018 — Neo-Confederate demonstrators Joshua Pennington (left) and Frank Harper (right) arrive on the campus of University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill to protest the removal of a statue dedicated to Confederate soldiers. The statue, nicknamed “Silent Sam,” was toppled by anti-racism activists on Monday, August 20. (Photo: © Jenny Warburg)

 

August 25, 2018 — The neo-Confederates and other white supremacists were met by a group of anti-racism, anti-fascism protesters. Activist Maya Little stands near the center, wearing a camouflage tee shirt. (Photo: © Jenny Warburg)

 

August 25, 2018 — Representing the Confederate cause was Casey Bricknell–pictured here and below–who arrived dressed in the costume of a Civil War secessionist soldier, in the style of Silent Sam, the nickname for the statue that was toppled by demonstrators on August 20, 2018. (Photo: © Jenny Warburg)

 

August 25, 2018 — A confrontation between David Curtis, right, of the far-right Carolina Defenders National Nomads, and one of the anti-racism protesters. (Photo: © Jenny Warburg)

 

August 25, 2018 — A scuffle between pro-Confederate and anti-racism demonstrators at the site of the toppled statue of a Confederate soldier at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. By day’s end, seven people would be arrested. (Photo: © Jenny Warburg)

 

August 25, 2018 — Member of the Carolina Defenders National Nomads survey the action as they’re met with a crowd of anti-racism protesters at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. (Photo: © Jenny Warburg)

 

August 25, 2018 — Pro-Confederacy demonstrators unfurl their flags on the perimeter of the site of the empty pedestal that bore a statue of Confederate soldier on the campus of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Anti-racism protesters toppled the statute of August 20. (Photo: © Jenny Warburg)

 

August 25, 2018 — An anti-racism protester stands near neo-Confederate demonstrators in front of the empty pedestal where a statue depicting a Confederate soldier stood until activists toppled it on August 20. (Photo: © Jenny Warburg)

Tags: Casey Becknell Frank Harper Joshua Pennington Maya Little anti-fascism white nationalism white supremacy Carolina Defenders National Nomads University of North Carolina

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