UNC students and members of the Chapel Hill community celebrated the anniversary of Silent Sam's fall Tuesday evening.
A year ago, activiststore down the confederate statue. The remnants have since been moved to an undisclosed location.
On Tuesday, activist groups led a crowd past other campus landmarks. Speakers criticized the university for maintaining markers honoring white supremacists, including buildings named for slave owners.
But John Fuller, a Chapel Hill resident, says the removal of Silent Sam is progress.
"Coming into UNC as freshman… they don't have this shadow of blatant racism hovering over them as they walk this campus anymore," Fuller said.
The event attracted about 150 supporters, but few counter-protestors. Members of the Sons of the Confederacy were present on Franklin Street, on the edge of campus, earlier in the day.