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After The Fall: Reaction And Follow Up To The Toppling Of Silent Sam

WUNC News | By Laura Pellicer,
Frank Stasio
Published August 23, 2018 at 12:32 PM EDT
People gather near the remaining monument following a Monday night rally where the Confederate statue known as Silent Sam was toppled from it's pedestal by protesters at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018.
Gerry Broome
/
AP Photo
People gather near the remaining monument following a Monday night rally where the Confederate statue known as Silent Sam was toppled from it's pedestal by protesters at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018.

Silent Sam fell to the ground Monday night, breaking through the dirt around its pedestal. Protesters cheered, and police, for the most part, looked on as protesters kicked the statue and captured photos of the controversial Confederate symbol. 

WUNC Managing Editor Dave DeWitt speaks with host Frank Stasio about the ramifications of Silent Sam’s removal and possible consequences for protestors involved.

The after-effects of the toppling continue to reverberate through academic and political spheres around the state. The University of North Carolina System President Margaret Spellings and Chairman of the Board of Governors Harry Smith have promised a full criminal investigation of the events.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, the North Carolina Historical Commission called for three confederate monuments on state Capitol grounds in Raleigh to stay in place. Last year, Gov. Roy Cooper called for the relocation of the monuments. WUNC Managing Editor Dave DeWitt speaks with host Frank Stasio about the ramifications of Silent Sam’s removal and possible consequences for protestors involved.

Copyright 2018 North Carolina Public Radio
Laura Pellicer
Laura Pellicer is a producer with The State of Things (hyperlink), a show that explores North Carolina through conversation. Laura was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, a city she considers arrestingly beautiful, if not a little dysfunctional. She worked as a researcher for CBC Montreal and also contributed to their programming as an investigative journalist, social media reporter, and special projects planner. Her work has been nominated for two Canadian RTDNA Awards. Laura loves looking into how cities work, pursuing stories about indigenous rights, and finding fresh voices to share with listeners. Laura is enamored with her new home in North Carolina—notably the lush forests, and the waves where she plans on moonlighting as a mediocre surfer.
See stories by Laura Pellicer
Frank Stasio
Longtime NPR correspondent Frank Stasio was named permanent host of The State of Things in June 2006. A native of Buffalo, Frank has been in radio since the age of 19. He began his public radio career at WOI in Ames, Iowa, where he was a magazine show anchor and the station's News Director.
See stories by Frank Stasio