Court hearings for 'Silent Sam' protesters postponed
Eleven people charged in recent Silent Sam protests at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill were expected to appear Tuesday in court.
Posted — UpdatedThe defendants had been scheduled to be in court at 9 a.m. to answer charges related to improper behavior tied to the toppling two months ago of the Confederate monument as well as subsequent protests that have roiled the campus. But their cases were postponed until Nov. 5.
Other individuals who are facing charges over the toppling and protests have court dates scheduled for Oct. 11th, 15th and 18th.
"Silent Sam" had been standing on the UNC campus since 1913.
In August, protests over the statue's presence climax when a group gathered and knocked the statue down.
A free breakfast is being organized by two local groups who are pushing for the charges to be dropped against the 11 protesters.
Organizers are asking supporters to go inside the courthouse when the appearances start and sit behind the defendants in a show of solidarity.
University leaders were asked to decide by Nov. 15 on what course of action to take with the statue.
Chancellor Carol Folt has previously released a statement about the incident, condemning the act of toppling the statue but admitting that it has been a point of controversy.
"The monument has been divisive for years, and its presence has been a source of frustration for many people not only on our campus but throughout the community," Folt's statement said.
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