Police surround a Confederate monument during a protest to remove the statue at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017.
Gerry Broome
Hundreds of people rallied Tuesday night at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill campus in opposition of a Confederate statue known as Silent Sam.
Protesters surrounded the bronze monument and later blocked traffic. They were heard chanting "Tear it down" and "Hey hey, ho ho. This racist statue's got to go," as police in riot gear protected the statue.
University police stand watch inside a barricade around the Silent Sam Statue at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Protestors for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the statue on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.
Credit Matt Couch / WUNC
The Silent Sam monument stands prominently on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s campus. Protesters for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the monument on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.
Credit Matt Couch / WUNC
A protester against the Silent Sam monument stands near a barricade around the statue at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Protesters for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the monument on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.
Credit Matt Couch / WUNC
Cheyenne Wiley (center), a supporter of the Silent Sam monument, argues with protesters over whether or not the monument to the Confederate cause should be removed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. Protesters for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the statue.
Credit Matt Couch / WUNC
A lone supporter of the Silent Sam monument debates with multiple protesters over whether the statue should be removed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. Protesters for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the monument on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.
Credit Matt Couch / WUNC
Protesters raise their fists in salute during chants of “Black Power”, at a demonstration at the Silent Sam monument at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Protesters for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the monument on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.
Credit Matt Couch / WUNC
University of North Carolina alumni hold handmade signs at a rally in protest of the Silent Sam statue at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.
Credit Lisa Philip / WUNC
A sign in support of the Silent Sam statue rests near the monument on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 as hundreds of protesters gathered in opposition of the statue.
Credit Jason deBruyn / WUNC
Police arrest a man during the protests against the Silent Sam statue on the campus of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.
Credit Jason deBruyn / WUNC
Police inside the barricade around the Silent Sam monument watch protests for the statue’s removal at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Protesters for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the monument on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.
Credit Matt Couch / WUNC
Demonstrators against the Silent Sam monument listen to fellow protester’s testimonies and speeches at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Protesters for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the monument on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.
Credit Matt Couch / WUNC
Demonstrators hold aloft signs against the Silent Sam monument at a protest near the monument at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Protesters for and against the statue’s removal attended rallies near the monument on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.
Elizabeth “Liz” Baier is WUNC’s Supervising Editor for Race, Class and Communities. She has two decades of experience than span print, audio, and digital reporting and editing.