Protesters yank down Confederate monument in Durham

On Monday night, protesters in Durham, North Carolina, pulled down a Confederate monument at a courthouse.

According to Derrick Lewis, a reporter at the CBS affiliate in Durham, a woman climbed the monument at about 7 p.m. during the public protest to tie a rope around the monument. The crowd then pulled the statue to the ground, punching and kicking it once it had fallen, as they were heard to chant, “No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA!”

The 15-foot soldier depicted a soldier in uniform, with the inscription, “In memory of the boys who wore the gray,” as well as a Confederate flag, at its base.

“It’s an awesome day. I’ve walked by this statue for the last six years ― I knew someone was going to topple it,” said Josh Reynolds of Durham, who took his 4-year-old daughter, Ida, with him to see for himself what had happened when he heard the news.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper responded on Monday night, saying that the tragedy in Charlottesville was “unacceptable” but that there’s a “better way to remove these monuments.”

Durham County also issued a statement late Monday: “Our elected officials and senior staff understand the unrest in our nation and community, particularly following the senseless acts that took place in Charlottesville, VA. We share the sentiments of many communities around the nation that admonish hate and acts of violence as we believe civility is necessary in our every action and response. Governmental agencies dedicated to public safety will continue to work collectively to ensure Durham remains a community of excellence where all of our residents can live peacefully, grow and thrive.”