During Silent Sam sit-in, counterprotesters march with Confederate flags at UNC-Chapel Hill

Those urging for Silent Sam to be removed from campus released a statement on Facebook calling for people to support their continuous sit-in, especially with the counterprotesters present.

"Any and all support today, as quickly as possible, is greatly needed and appreciated," organizers said in a statement. 

For five days, and even with counterprotesters, the sit-in has remained peaceful.

"(Silent Sam) captures a Confederate culture, and he's a reminder of the injustice that our country's recent history is based on," a sit-in participant said.

They said they're prepared to continue the sit-in as long as it takes — until Silent Sam is no longer on campus.

"The reason we feel strongly that the statue comes down is what it represented to the people who put it here," UNC student and sit-in participant Mitch Xia said.

Many community members have donated water, food, first aid supplies for the those participating in the sit-in.

"We have received an outpouring of support from the community and just people in the area," Xia said.

"This was never intended to be a symbol of southern culturem," UNC empoyee Kim Stahl said. "It was intended to be a symbol of racism and hate."