The state of North Carolina designated its law mandating the protection of Confederate monuments on Tuesday, August 15, when it arrested one of the protesters responsible for bringing down a statue in Durham the day prior.
Takiyah Thompson, 22, was detained following a press conference she attended with others who took part in orchestrating the relic's removal. They had gathered at North Carolina Central University in order to publicly request that the County Commissioners, the Sheriff's office, and District Attorney's office pardon them of any charges related to the action. Thompson actually became the face of the demonstration, when she climbed up a latter and tied a rope around the neck of the Southern soldier's statue, before descending to allow for it to be brought down to a roaring cheer.
The Sheriff had gone on record to warn that he intended to pursue those involved to the "full extent of the law." By 5:48 p.m. Thompson was freed on $10,000 bond. She is facing two misdemeanor and two felony charges that include disorderly conduct by injury to a statue, damage to real property, participation in a riot with property damage in excess of $1,500 and inciting others to riot where there is property damage in excess of $1,500.
