Durham police chief, city defend response to freeway protest over Israel-Hamas war
READ MORE
NC responds to Israel-Hamas war
Since Oct. 7, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, the ensuing war in Gaza has had an impact around the world. In the Triangle, protesters have taken to the streets, college campuses and government meetings to call for a cease-fire, aid to Gaza and the release of hostages. Here is ongoing coverage from The News & Observer.
Expand All
Durham leaders defended the city’s response to protesters who blocked the Durham Freeway at rush hour Thursday evening. State Republican leaders accused police of “coddling” the demonstrators for not making arrests.
Two days after the protest, the Durham Police Department said on Saturday afternoon it obtained arrest warrants for four Durham women, who were charged with impeding traffic.
About 200 protesters participating with a local chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, a national Jewish anti-Zionist group, marched onto and along the freeway near downtown Durham.
Police repeatedly warned the protesters of imminent arrests, but they made no arrests and the protesters left the highway after about two hours at around 7:30 p.m.
They called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and accused Israel of carrying out war crimes against Palestinians in retaliation for the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, in which around 1,400 Israelis were killed by Hamas militants, and over 200 were kidnapped.
The Israeli Defense Force has responded to the attack with hundreds of airstrikes on Gaza and a growing ground offensive, national media has reported.
More than 9,000 Palestinians have been killed since, including about 3,600 children.
Berger says police made ’decision to coddle’
In statements Friday, Republican Sen. Phil Berger, the president pro tempore of the state Senate, and state House Speaker Tim Moore, who is campaigning for a seat in Congress, criticized both the city of Durham and Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, and called the protesters “Hamas sympathizers.”
“Let me be clear,” Moore said. “Those calling for a ‘ceasefire’ are sympathizing with Hamas when we should all be standing firmly with Israel for the duration of their response to the unprovoked attack by Hamas on October 7th.”
Berger said: “Allowing protesters to take over a state highway and block people from picking up their children, going home to their families, or heading to work for hours is an abject failure of the most basic function of government — to provide for law and order. The Cooper administration and the City of Durham’s decision to coddle Hamas sympathizers at the expense of the daily lives and plans of hundreds of law-abiding citizens is a dereliction of their primary duty to North Carolinians.”
Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews said she stood “firmly behind our response to this complex and volatile situation.”
In a statement Friday, Andrews said their priority was to reroute N.C. 147 traffic and manage commuters while other officers worked to reopen the highway.
“We were prepared to arrest any individuals that did not comply with our lawful orders,” the chief said. “We did not and will not prioritize haste over safety, and will always avoid taking haphazard or reckless action that would have placed officers, motorists, bystanders, and protesters in danger.”
The protesters made an effort to call into Rep. Valerie Foushee’s townhall to demand that she sign onto a ceasefire resolution, which has not received major support in Congress.
Foushee represents District 4 in Congress, which includes Durham and Chapel Hill.
Foushee told WRAL that “the entire world was hurting” over an unfolding humanitarian crisis but that Israel “has the the right to defend itself in the aftermath of Hamas’ terrorist attacks.”
In response, Jewish Voice for Peace said in a statement that it continues to demand that the congresswoman act to support a humanitarian ceasefire and that “remarks of sympathy are not enough.”
Restraint may have averted a riot, says mayor pro tem
Durham Mayor Pro Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton also praised the Police Department’s restraint.
“I know a lot of people wanted us to go in immediately and arrest everyone, but that can escalate the situation. The last thing we need is a riot on 147,” Middleton told The News & Observer.
That, he said, would have resulted in a “very different conversation today.”
“This department has been noted for their restraint and I think we need to be very careful about questioning our police captains on the ground,” Middleton said.
He added in a message that Berger should stop trying to score “cheap political points.”
“Durham’s desirability as one of the best places to live in our country is not because of a lack of law and order,” Middleton said. “It is precisely because all of our constitutional guarantees are respected.”
Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson called the protests “lawless disturbances” on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday night.
“When I am governor, we will not tolerate protesters interfering with law-abiding citizens going about their daily lives,” Robinson tweeted. “The days of coddling lawlessness will be over. I’ll move swiftly to order highway patrol to use any and all resources at their disposal to quickly clear roadways of these extremist displays.”
Middleton said City Council members were kept apprised Thursday evening, but were not calling the shots.
”The day-to-day decisions, tactical and on the ground, are made by the city manager and police. We do not insert ourselves in that level of decision-making,” Middleton said.
This story was originally published November 3, 2023 at 12:11 PM.
.JPG)
