'Funeral' pyre sparks fracas

CHAPEL HILL -- Police were not trying to rescue "Capitalism" on Friday night. They just didn't want a fiery funeral to happen in the middle of Franklin Street.

Protesters clashed with police when two officers tried to move the group of more than 50 protesters out of the road and safely remove a mannequin labeled "Capitalism" from a coffin doused with fuel.

Pushing and shoving ensued. Witnesses said they saw police use pepper spray and batons. Some complained about excessive force to break up what they thought was a dance party.

"They were very peaceful until the cop pushed one of the protesters down," said UNC-Chapel Hill freshman Ariana Lucido, who witnessed the clash.

Police Chief Brian Curran said his officers dealt with the situation appropriately. He said police do not condone dancing in the street and had not issued a permit for the protest.

"Once you're out there trying to get stuff out of the street, and people start physically manhandling you, you've got to defend yourself," Curran said. "Usually when we have protests in Chapel Hill, people are at least civil to the point where they don't attack you. I don't think I can say that for this crowd."

Nick Shepard, 24, the manager at International Books on Franklin Street, was the only person arrested. He was charged with assaulting an officer.

Shepard declined to comment until he talks to a lawyer.

Curran said the officers' main concern was the funeral pyre atop a shopping cart.

"[Officers] could smell the kerosene and could tell that these people were getting ready to set this thing on fire somewhere downtown," Curran said. "In the middle of Franklin Street in traffic's probably not a good place for a dance party, especially given the traffic versus pedestrian situations we've had recently."