Protesters take down U.S. flag on UNC campus quad, replace with Palestinian flag

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WNCN) — Protestors rushed to the middle of the quad on UNC’s campus, replacing the American flag with the Palestinian one, while chanting “From the River to the Sea” and “Free Palestine.”

They then formed a human chain, blocking CBS 17 cameras and shoving crews out of the way.

Police eventually escorted Interim Chancellor Lee Roberts to the middle of the quad to restore the American flag.

That’s when crowds and police clashed.

Note: The following protest clips have had the audio removed due to profanities.

Protestors threw water bottles and other items at police.

Police shoved back, and had to use pepper spray to get the crowds away from them.

When police left, a small group of students, holding an Israeli Flag, guarded the American flag from protestors.

“It shows there are people here that don’t agree with what’s going on, and other people are really scared to speak up,” said Brendan Rosenblum, a UNC student.

“The presence of us is definitely small compared to the presence of those around us, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to go away,” said Jake Harris, another UNC student.

Harris and Rosenblum were two of the students surrounding the American flag until crowds dispersed.

CBS 17 learned before the late afternoon chaos, some protestors were planning to again pitch their tents on the quad.

It’s unclear if they are determined to continue to do so.

Police are ready to respond again if needed. CBS 17 crews saw them with shields, masks, and helmets ready. The Alamance County Sheriff’s Office also arrived on campus to assist.

Tuesday’s afternoon of protests and clashing with law enforcement came after the school said 36 people were detained after “failing to abide by today’s order to disperse from Polk Place.”

Of those 36 people detained, 30 were cited for trespassing before being released on-site. Of those 30, 10 were UNC students and 20 were not affiliated with the university.

Six others (three students, three unaffiliated) were arrested and taken to the Orange County Detention Center where they were charged with trespassing and were released on a written promise to appear in court.

Organizers told CBS 17 they are going to continue demonstrating until university officials meet their demands.

As previously reported , the group is calling on the university to divest from any companies with ties to Israel and for more transparency with the UNC’s finances. Protestors said they are committed to staying in their encampment until the university meets their demands.

“Liberation trumps any fear that we have for any of this,” one student organizer said. “I am not scared of the consequences that I will face for speaking up for what I know is right.”

Officers were seen at approximately 3 p.m. coming to the quad to take down the Palestinian flag that was raised by demonstrators. As protestors moved towards a line of officers forming a circle around the flag pole with the American flag raised again, officers dispersed and attempted to use barricades to keep the advancing protestors back.

UNC released a statement around 12 p.m. regarding the arrests and detainments made Tuesday morning.

“We were disappointed that we had to take action this morning regarding protesters, including many who are not members of the Carolina community, who violated state law and university polices that provide for peaceful demonstration,” the school said. They said the university had a “constructive dialogue” with students and others who were protesting on campus, but things changed over the weekend.

“Previous protests this year have concluded peacefully and without arrests … At several points during this past weekend, we had constructive conversations with organizers that allowed for the group to continue their event and remain without our reasonable time, manner and place policies,” the university said. “That changed Sunday evening when protests backtracked on their commitment to comply with these policies. The leaders of this group ended our attempts at constructive dialogue.”

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