Protesters return to Durham for second week. Sheriff’s office says damage ‘must stop.’
A group of about 75 protesters, mostly dressed in black, gathered in downtown Durham on Saturday night, chanting “Black lives matter” and “No justice, no peace” as they marched to the Durham police station — a scene similar to last Saturday night’s protest.
The marchers were trailed by police cars throughout the route, which started at CCB Plaza with brief speeches by participants.
At least one trash can was set on fire early in the march, which began around 9:15 p.m., and protesters spray-painted a sign at the police station before heading back down Main Street. Someone lit fireworks outside the police headquarters; another threw a smoke bomb at a Durham County administrative building.
In addition, people threw objects at windows at the Durham jail, shattering large glass panel walls at the entrance, according to a Durham County Sheriff’s Office press release.
Protesters also removed flags from the flagpoles in front of the jail and set the North Carolina and U.S. flags on fire while shooting fireworks at the upper floors, the release states.
“Damaging and destroying property and endangering the lives of those housed inside with aerial explosives is unacceptable, illegal, and must stop,” states the release, which points out that this was the second weekend in a row in which there was damage.
Chanting “We keep us safe,” some marchers used umbrellas to block news crews — and anyone else — from taking photos and videos. Organizers have not been willing to talk with journalists covering the marches.
The last two weekend protests were advertised on the Twitter account @DurhamBurn. The account indicates it is part of BIPOC Underground Resistance Network. (BIPOC typically stands for Black, indigenous and people of color.) According to the account’s description, it’s a community of anarchists and abolitionists in the Triangle area.
‘Lockback’ rally to support inmates
The fliers for Saturday’s protest indicated it was a rally against a “lockback” — or inmate restrictions — at the Durham jail.
AnnMarie Breen, a spokesperson for the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, wrote in an email to The News & Observer that the jail was placed in quarantine by a public health department directive after the detection of COVID-19 cases. A total of 29 staff and inmates have tested positive at the jail recently, The News & Observer reported.
During the 20-day quarantine that ended Aug. 29, communal activities like group sports, watching TV, and playing games were suspended, Breen wrote. Every detainee was provided a free radio and other items, like reading material and puzzle books, she wrote.
“Detainees were allowed out of their cells one at a time for 30 minutes to take showers and make a phone call three times a week per the quarantine protocol,” she wrote.
Police approach
Just before the Saturday protest, Durham police said they support people’s right to protest, but would respond to maintain order and safety.
“The Durham Police Department will continue to facilitate the rights of our residents to protest but will be ready to respond as necessary to maintain order and safety for all,” according to a police statement sent to The News & Observer on Friday.
“Our approach to these protests has been highly successful in regards to reducing damage and injury while ensuring the safety of participants,” the statement said.
Last weekend, Durham police said they received eight reports of vandalism.
City Manager Tom Bonfield described the police response last Saturday as measured, primarily monitoring the crowd and managing traffic.
The protest last Saturday was peaceful until about 10:30 p.m. About 50 people broke off at that time, he said, and vandalism began.
“They spread out pretty quickly. It wasn’t like the same 50 people went place to place,” Bonfield said. “They were kind of dispersed in a variety of places, like they definitely had a plan and knew what they wanted to do.”
Also around 10:30 p.m., Durham police officials activated the mobile field force, groups of officers who wear protective equipment often referred to as riot gear, Bonfield said.
“By the time they got to that point, then people dispersed,” Bonfield said.
Mayor Steve Schewel indicated the damage last week was not extensive, but more than Durham has experienced in the past.
In general, Schewel said, he believes Durham police have done “a masterful job” in responding to protests.
“I think their decisions have kept Durham safer. I think they have a non-confrontational strategy and desire to protect the First Amendment rights of protesters has served us very well, not only to protect those folks rights but also to keep our city safe and keep the violence at a very low level,” he said. “It has worked.”
This story was originally published September 5, 2020 at 10:34 PM.
