Two very different versions of events have emerged about the use of pepper spray at two separate points Saturday's event. Protesters say the use of force was excessive. Meanwhile, the Graham Police Department and the Alamance County Sheriff's Office say officers were keeping the area safe for the roughly 200 people in attendance and others in the area.
WE ARE FOLLOWING ON THE NEWS AT 6:00. >>> WE KNOW 23 PEOPLE WILL FACE CHARGES IN QUACKS MARCH TO THE POLLS, THE ONE THAT THE MARCH TO THE POLLS. IT'S THE LATEST UPDATE THAT HAS DRAWN INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES I AM DAVID CRABTREE. >> I AM DEBRA MORGAN. THE CLASH PUT THE TOWN ON THE MAP FOR MANY PEOPLE. GRAHAM IS IN ALAMANCE COUNTY HALFWAY BETWEEN GREENSBORO AND DURHAM ON I-85. IT WAS ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE WASHINGTON POST AS WELL AS "NEW YORK TIMES" AND NPR AND CNN. WRAL'S JOE FISHER JOINS US LIVE WITH NEW INFORMATION. JOE. >> Reporter: WE KNOW THAT PEPPER SPRAY WAS USED AT TWO POINTS DURING THIS RALLY ON SATURDAY. TONIGHT, DEMONSTRATORS ARE CALLING THE USE OF FORCE EXCESSIVE, AND GRAHAM POLICE AND THE ALAMANCE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE MAINTAIN THAT THEY DID ALL THEY COULD TO KEEP THE AREA SAFE, NOT ONLY FOR THE 200 OR SO PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE FOR THE RALLY, BUT ALSO PEOPLE DRIVING AND WALKING NEARBY. >> TODAY, THAT IS REVIEW ONLY. >> Reporter: THE ALAMANCE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TOOK NO WEDNESDAY FROM THE MEDIA ABOUT THE USE OF PEPPER SPRAY IN THE PANDEMONIUM THAT FOLLOWED AT SATURDAY'S MARCH TO THE POLLS RALLY WHERE 23 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED, INCLUDING SEAN GREEN. >> WE WERE PEACEFUL THE-TIRE TIME. >> Reporter: GREEN SAYS POLICE PEPPER SPRAYED THE CROWD ABOUT 15 SECONDS AFTER A 9 MINUTE MOMENT OF SILENCE HONORING GEORGE FLOYD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. GRAHAM PD SAYS PROTESTERS REFUSED MULTIPLE VERBAL COMMANDS TO CLEAR THE STREET. >> THEY DIDN'T GIVE US ENOUGH TIME. AND PEOPLE BECAME VERY SICK OVER THAT. THEY WERE CHILDREN THROWING UP. >> Reporter: ON THE COURTHOUSE GROUND, DEPUTIES SAY THEY FOUND A GAS POWERED GENERATOR RUNNING AND A GAS CAN 2' AWAY DEEMED HAZARD AND AGAINST THE RULES OF THE PERMIT WHEN A DEPUTY TRIED TO UNPLUG AND CEASE THE GENERATOR, THEY SAY PROTESTERS RESISTED. >> ONE OF OUR FEMALE OFFICERS WAS SHOVED TO THE GROUND. AND SHE WAS FALLING AND DEPLOYED THE OC SPRAY SIMILAR TO PEPPER SPRAY AND SHE WAS INJURED. >> Reporter: DEPUTIES SAY THE GENERATOR WAS BROUGHT TO THE EVENT BY THE ORGANIZER REVEREND GREG DRUMR-I-T-E WHO THEY ARRESTED. DEPUTIES SAY THEY GAVE THREE WARNINGS OVER 7 MINUTES TO DISBURSE, AND DRUMRIGHT INSTRUCTED PROTESTERS TO STAND THEIR GROUND. >> THERE WAS NO ARGUING. >> Reporter: AND ONE PROTESTER WAS ARRESTED FOR HAVING A KNIFE AT THE RALLY, BUT BY IN LARGE, ARREST WARRANTS SHOW THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED FOR FAILING TO DISBURSE, WHICH IS A MISDEMEANOR. THERE IS ANOTHER MARCH TO THE POLLS EVENT AT THAT WAS SCHEDULED FOR 9:HUNDRED TOMORROW MORNING AND HAS BEEN MOVED TO 3:00 AND THEY PLAN TO MEET AT WAYMAN CHAPEL AME CHURCH IN DOWNTOWN GRAHAM. ONE PROTESTER TELLS ME THEY SWITCHED IT FROM 9:00 TO 3:00
