Durham group: Fight against white supremacy takes many forms

In the crowd were people once charged with defacing a public building or monument, conspiracy to deface a public building or monument and injury to real property. All those charges were dismissed and one conviction overturned Tuesday, ending the criminal prosecution of those who damaged the statue.

"This victory is a huge win in the struggle against white supremacy," she said.

"The racist practices of Durham’s government officials and institutions — including the cops, courts and jails — will not be tolerated."

Thompson said the group's fight would continue "until every monument to racist oppression is taken down."

She concluded, "One day soon, we will tear down things bigger than statues and build a world based on justice and liberation."

In his comments, Brazil referred to the rally that paralyzed Durham as a "street party."

Prompted by a social media rumor that the KKK had planned a rally, thousands poured into downtown Durham to counter that message. Public agencies and businesses closed their doors, sending employees home, and police and sheriff's deputies massed in anticipation of a clash like the one that shook Charlottesville, Va., just days before.

The KKK never materialized, and the gathering was peaceful and joyful.

Brazil chose deferred prosecution but is now arguing that his charge should be dismissed.

Unlike the statue defendants, he could still see punishment.

District Attorney Roger Echols said Tuesday that it did not make sense to pursue charges in the remaining statue cases given that District Court Judge Frederick S. Battaglia Jr. found one suspect not guilty and dismissed charges against two others the day before.

"I do believe the evidence supported the misdemeanor charges, and we proceeded on those charges," Echols said. "Acts of vandalism, regardless of noble intent, are still violations of law."

Those charged have characterized their acts as necessary civil disobedience in the face of white supremacy.

The Confederate statue was pulled down on Aug. 14 by protesters who said it represented a symbol of white supremacy.

"The August 14th action liberated our community from a symbol of terror," Thompson said.

It came at the culmination of a rally in Durham just days after a violent clash in Charlottesville that generated national headlines when white nationalists and counter-protesters clashed over the removal of Confederate monuments. During that incident, a 32-year-old woman was killed, and as many as 34 people were hurt.