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Police arrest 12 in downtown Raleigh as social justice protests take combative turn

Twelve people were arrested in downtown Raleigh overnight after protesters blocked traffic, threw items, damaged property and set several small fires, according to police.

Posted Updated

By
Kevin Kuzminski
, WRAL multiplatform producer
RALEIGH, N.C. — Twelve people were arrested in downtown Raleigh late Sunday night after protesters blocked traffic, threw items, damaged property and set several small fires, according to police.

The event acted as a vigil for recent victims of police shootings, including 20-year-old Daunte Wright and 13-year-old Adam Toledo.

Wright was fatally shot by police officer Kimberly Potter during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minn. Potter claims she meant to use her taser instead of her gun.

Toledo, a seventh grader, was shot by Chicago Police on March 29, but the bodycam footage of the shooting wasn't revealed until Thursday.

Here's a recap of the weekend, starting with the most recent and most combative night of protests.

Sunday

Protests began Sunday evening on the calm side in the Moore Square portion of downtown Raleigh. An organized event began at 6 p.m. and, instead of marching, a group between 100 and 150 people gathered on the lawn and shared emotional stories of police brutality and social injustices.

Later in the night, things took a sharp turn.

A large crowd began marching through downtown, chanting "Black lives matter" and "No justice, no peace," among other phrases.

At 8:15 p.m., Raleigh police ordered the crowd off the street and onto the sidewalks, calling the protest an "unlawful assembly."

Marchers reacted strongly to these orders as audible chants could be heard directed to police.

Trash bins were thrown into the street to hinder police's ability to trail the protesters in vehicles. Graffiti could be seen spray-painted on structures, eggs were thrown and a flag was burned.

Property was destroyed and store-front windows of businesses were shattered. The majority of the damage was in the warehouse district.

A little after 8 p.m., Raleigh police officers began arresting protesters near McDowell Street. As of 9 p.m., 12 people had been arrested, including four at the State Capitol. As some people were being arrested, they shouted their names and age so people could bail them out.

The ages of those arrested range from 19 to 49. On Monday morning, not one was in jail.

Things were over by about 9:15 p.m. as crowds dispersed and the streets emptied.

Saturday

Protests fired up again in downtown Raleigh Saturday as many voiced their displeasure after recent acts of violence toward people of color around the country.

A crowd of around 100 people gathered and marched near the Governor's Mansion, chanting "Black lives matter" and "power to the people."

Police could be heard over bullhorns telling the protesters to disperse out of the street or they would be subject to punishment.

At one point, protesters stopped at the Capitol building to share their stories and encounters with police. Some protesters became emotional as they spoke.

“It could be anyone of us, man, and I’m scared. I’m just scared for my kids,” said one protester.

Things remained peaceful but there was a small incident where a bystander says he was harassed after he stopped riding his bike to record the protest.

“I was just video taping on the corner and they told me to put my phone down and ... that’s anti-democratic," the bystander, Taylor Cuthrell, said. "I don’t feel like that’s what they’re about, that’s hurting their cause. I don’t want police to be bad either.”

Raleigh protests

Raleigh businesses spent much of Saturday preparing for the potential for a large group gathering tonight.

FRIDAY

Crowds gathered in downtown Durham around 7:30 p.m. A large crowd began at the Durham County Courthouse, then made its way to the Durham Police Department headquarters.

Graffiti could be seen on multiple surfaces, with clear messages aimed at authority.

Durham Graffiti
Durham graffiti

WRAL's Rosalia Fodera reports that protesters were burning an American flag, while firecrackers could be heard going off near the Durham Police Department building, as well.

Durham protesters could be heard chanting, "Justice for Daunte Wright." Additionally, some protestors egged buildings, and tore down barriers outside of restaurants, including Durham staple, Copa.

Copa owner Roberto Copa says he sides with the protesters on their political stance, but is sad that they resorted to destruction of property.

"Plates are broken, wine glasses are on the floor, and that's not nice," Copa said. "Personally, I agree with their protests, but it is not fair to come and disturb our businesses."

In Raleigh, a smaller group gathered to speak out and march against police brutality.

Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin​ announced Friday evening that the city wasn't planning to institute a curfew in reaction to the protests.

"There are several protests planned this weekend. I am not considering a curfew," Baldwin said.

Protests took place at both the Governor's Mansion and Moore Square areas of Raleigh.

Many Raleigh business owners tell WRAL that they are boarding up their stores out of an abundance of caution, after the looting and vandalism that took place in May, 2020.

Debbie Holt, owner of Clyde Cooper's BBQ on S. Wilmington St, is one of them.

"You have to do what will help you sleep at night," Holt said. "And after witnessing what we went through with those riots, this puts my mind at ease, and I wish that everybody else could do it, too, because you never know what's going to happen.

"When you call 911, you hope that somebody's going to come and protect you. Well, that didn't happen for me," she said.

Additionally, Cumberland County announced Friday it is closing its offices in downtown Fayetteville at 4 p.m. so workers can leave the area before possible protests begin. WRAL's Kirsten Guttierez reports that a group of protestors outside the historic Market House began to disperse around 7:30 p.m.

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