Maya Little, a doctorate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been arrested and charged with inciting a riot and assaulting a police officer, according to NPR.
On Monday night, Little led a rally in response to the university’s announcement that it would relocate the statue of Confederate soldier “Silent Sam.” The monument, given to the school in 1913 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, was torn down by protesters earlier this year. However, University Chancellor Carol Folt proposed a plan that would place this statue back on campus grounds, this time in a new, multimillion-dollar history and education center.
Monday’s protest began with passionate speeches from Chapel Hill demonstrators. It then led to a march where students chanted “no KKK, no fascist USA” and “Cops and Klan go hand in hand.” There was also a heavy presence of armed officers which yielded multiple arrests.
"I was charged with assault on an officer, a charge that has been commonly used by UNC police when they can't find anything else to charge activists with, and inciting a riot, both misdemeanors, said the 26-year-old activist. “The only danger and violence present last night was once again caused by university police who came equipped to a student protest with riot gear and tear gas canisters.”
Folt’s proposal would not only relocate “Silent Sam,” but it would also increase police activity on campus. This prompted an additional rebuttal from demonstrators on Monday night.
“We already know the police are here to protect neo-Nazis,” said the graduate student during her speech, reports The News & Observer. “We already know Chapel Hill police and UNC police are not here for us.”
On Tuesday, she turned herself in at the Orange County Courthouse. This is not the first time she’s been charged with incidents relating to the white supremacist memento. In April, she was found guilty for drenching the statue in red ink and her blood, heavily critiquing its place on campus and the message that sends to Black students.
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