Anti-Haters Flood Downtown Durham Amid White Supremacist Rally Rumor
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DURHAM, N.C. (CBSMiami) – Anti-hate protesters flooded downtown Durham just after noon on Friday amid rumors that a white supremacist rally was set to take place.
"I just believe love wins," said Mola, a protester. "You can tell by the language of what side has the hate. The side that I represent, there's no hate for. The side with the hate is using the profanity and the gestures of hate and you can tell what side has love and I just believe love wins."
Because of concerns surrounding the potential for a white supremacist rally, Durham County closed four buildings in anticipation of the rally at the courthouse Friday afternoon.
"I'm definitely concerned. I've seen people out here with guns," said Krystal, a business owner in the area. "The threat of violence felt real earlier, it was scary, but people are out here showing that solidarity is more important than safety and that means a lot to me."
Friday's events come as the last four of the eight protesters arrested in connection with destroying a Confederate momentum appeared in court.
Scott Holmes, the attorney for the protesters, said his clients have been receiving death threats since the monument was toppled Monday.
"By phone, by social media, by email, it also appears that folks are calling in false charges against them to police who then have to investigate. So there's a variety of ways in which they are already being harassed," Holmes said.