To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
"We are part of a long tradition of civil rights in this country. We as a country have a lot of change and a lot of healing to do, and we are not going to get there putting racism on a pedestal," said Andrew Skinner, a 23-year-old University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill graduate. (Photo: WRAL News in NC/Twitter)
Yet another racist monument down, around 1,700 more to go.
"It's time to build monuments to honor those who have been murdered by white supremacy. It's time to tear down Silent Sam. It's time to tear down UNC's institutional white supremacy."
--Maya Little, student activist
What began as a demonstration in support of student activist Maya Little--who was arrested in April for pouring red ink and her own blood on the Confederate statue "Silent Sam," located on the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill campus--ended in students and other protesters ripping the monument down Monday night after denouncing the school's administrators for refusing to remove the symbol of racism and oppression.
"It's time to build monuments to honor those who have been murdered by white supremacy," said Little, who attended and delivered a speech at Monday's demonstration. "It's time to tear down 'Silent Sam.' It's time to tear down UNC's institutional white supremacy."
Watch the moment when the statue was toppled, leaving "Silent Sam" face-down in the dirt:
\u201c\u201cProtesters topple Silent Sam Confederate statue at UNC\u201d\n\nVia Julia Wall and the News & Observer. \n\nhttps://t.co/nzDPXVJctf\u201d— Move Silent Sam (@Move Silent Sam) 1534823722
\u201cProtesters shout, \u201cNext up, Charlottesville.\u201d\u201d— The Daily Tar Heel (@The Daily Tar Heel) 1534809624
"So thankful for the students at UNC who toppled the Confederate statue on their campus. They did what the administration and politicians in North Carolina should've done decades ago," The Intercept's Shaun King wrote on Twitter early Tuesday. "It was erected at the height of lynching by friends of the KKK as an act of intimidation."
"Silent Sam," a monument of a Confederate soldier, was constructed in 1913 with donations from the the United Daughters of the Confederacy. According to the local Raleigh News & Observer, UNC-Chapel Hill spent $390,000 on surveillance cameras and other protections for the statue last year alone.
Just before they felled the Confederate monument, "protesters covered the statue with tall, gray banners, erecting 'an alternative monument' that said, in part, 'For a world without white supremacy,'" the News & Observer reported.
Andrew Skinner, a 23-year-old UNC graduate, said in an interview with the News & Observer that the demonstrators' destruction of the Confederate statue "shows that we have the power to be on the right side of history."
"We are part of a long tradition of civil rights in this country," Skinner added. "We as a country have a lot of change and a lot of healing to do, and we are not going to get there putting racism on a pedestal."
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Yet another racist monument down, around 1,700 more to go.
"It's time to build monuments to honor those who have been murdered by white supremacy. It's time to tear down Silent Sam. It's time to tear down UNC's institutional white supremacy."
--Maya Little, student activist
What began as a demonstration in support of student activist Maya Little--who was arrested in April for pouring red ink and her own blood on the Confederate statue "Silent Sam," located on the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill campus--ended in students and other protesters ripping the monument down Monday night after denouncing the school's administrators for refusing to remove the symbol of racism and oppression.
"It's time to build monuments to honor those who have been murdered by white supremacy," said Little, who attended and delivered a speech at Monday's demonstration. "It's time to tear down 'Silent Sam.' It's time to tear down UNC's institutional white supremacy."
Watch the moment when the statue was toppled, leaving "Silent Sam" face-down in the dirt:
\u201c\u201cProtesters topple Silent Sam Confederate statue at UNC\u201d\n\nVia Julia Wall and the News & Observer. \n\nhttps://t.co/nzDPXVJctf\u201d— Move Silent Sam (@Move Silent Sam) 1534823722
\u201cProtesters shout, \u201cNext up, Charlottesville.\u201d\u201d— The Daily Tar Heel (@The Daily Tar Heel) 1534809624
"So thankful for the students at UNC who toppled the Confederate statue on their campus. They did what the administration and politicians in North Carolina should've done decades ago," The Intercept's Shaun King wrote on Twitter early Tuesday. "It was erected at the height of lynching by friends of the KKK as an act of intimidation."
"Silent Sam," a monument of a Confederate soldier, was constructed in 1913 with donations from the the United Daughters of the Confederacy. According to the local Raleigh News & Observer, UNC-Chapel Hill spent $390,000 on surveillance cameras and other protections for the statue last year alone.
Just before they felled the Confederate monument, "protesters covered the statue with tall, gray banners, erecting 'an alternative monument' that said, in part, 'For a world without white supremacy,'" the News & Observer reported.
Andrew Skinner, a 23-year-old UNC graduate, said in an interview with the News & Observer that the demonstrators' destruction of the Confederate statue "shows that we have the power to be on the right side of history."
"We are part of a long tradition of civil rights in this country," Skinner added. "We as a country have a lot of change and a lot of healing to do, and we are not going to get there putting racism on a pedestal."
Yet another racist monument down, around 1,700 more to go.
"It's time to build monuments to honor those who have been murdered by white supremacy. It's time to tear down Silent Sam. It's time to tear down UNC's institutional white supremacy."
--Maya Little, student activist
What began as a demonstration in support of student activist Maya Little--who was arrested in April for pouring red ink and her own blood on the Confederate statue "Silent Sam," located on the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill campus--ended in students and other protesters ripping the monument down Monday night after denouncing the school's administrators for refusing to remove the symbol of racism and oppression.
"It's time to build monuments to honor those who have been murdered by white supremacy," said Little, who attended and delivered a speech at Monday's demonstration. "It's time to tear down 'Silent Sam.' It's time to tear down UNC's institutional white supremacy."
Watch the moment when the statue was toppled, leaving "Silent Sam" face-down in the dirt:
\u201c\u201cProtesters topple Silent Sam Confederate statue at UNC\u201d\n\nVia Julia Wall and the News & Observer. \n\nhttps://t.co/nzDPXVJctf\u201d— Move Silent Sam (@Move Silent Sam) 1534823722
\u201cProtesters shout, \u201cNext up, Charlottesville.\u201d\u201d— The Daily Tar Heel (@The Daily Tar Heel) 1534809624
"So thankful for the students at UNC who toppled the Confederate statue on their campus. They did what the administration and politicians in North Carolina should've done decades ago," The Intercept's Shaun King wrote on Twitter early Tuesday. "It was erected at the height of lynching by friends of the KKK as an act of intimidation."
"Silent Sam," a monument of a Confederate soldier, was constructed in 1913 with donations from the the United Daughters of the Confederacy. According to the local Raleigh News & Observer, UNC-Chapel Hill spent $390,000 on surveillance cameras and other protections for the statue last year alone.
Just before they felled the Confederate monument, "protesters covered the statue with tall, gray banners, erecting 'an alternative monument' that said, in part, 'For a world without white supremacy,'" the News & Observer reported.
Andrew Skinner, a 23-year-old UNC graduate, said in an interview with the News & Observer that the demonstrators' destruction of the Confederate statue "shows that we have the power to be on the right side of history."
"We are part of a long tradition of civil rights in this country," Skinner added. "We as a country have a lot of change and a lot of healing to do, and we are not going to get there putting racism on a pedestal."
