Violent clash in Pittsboro over Confederate monument leads to warrant, assault charges

A protest in downtown Pittsboro turned violent on Thursday as people clashed over a Confederate monument that had been removed by Chatham County in late 2019.

According to witnesses, multiple people suffered injuries. A woman could be seen bleeding from the face in a Facebook live video.

Witnesses told WRAL News that those who wanted to defend the monument struck counterprotesters with hockey sticks that they were using as flagpoles.

The Pittsboro Police Department has taken out a warrant against one individual, Tommy Parnell of Surry County, who was seen behaving violently. His charges include assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and assault on a female.

Social media posts indicate that the individual named in the warrant was with the pro-Confederate group.

"It was like a mob attacking individuals with different poles and sticks and different things of that nature," said witness Kerwin Pittman, who took the cell phone video. "And that is highly unacceptable."

Pro-Confederate protesters plan to continue to demonstrate at the site.

"Every chance I get," said Robert Butler. "We’re not backing down. We told them when they took that statue, we’re not backing down. And we will not back down. That’s our history."​