Durham sheriff, police chief vow to meet with marchers after peaceful freeway protest

This story was updated at noon June 2, 2020, to clarify that Monday’s afternoon and evening protests were separate events with different organizers.

At least 1,000 people marched through downtown Durham on Monday evening, the third straight night of national protests against the death of George Floyd and other black people at the hands of police.

Monday afternoon, a separate march onto the Durham Freeway secured a promise from the sheriff and police chief to attend a Friday summit to talk about overpolicing and poverty in the black community.

The Durham protests, unlike those in Raleigh, Charlotte, Fayetteville and many other cities across the country, have remained nonviolent — without the tear gas, riot police and looting that have dominated the news elsewhere.

And that is one reason Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead said in a news release that he and Police Chief C.J. Davis agreed to participate in “a conversation about law enforcement tactics and practices.”

Birkhead, who became Durham’s first black sheriff after the 2018 “Blue Wave” elections, said he wants to hear what protesters have to say.

“They are standing up against the current climate of racial discrimination in the criminal justice system, in policing and in our country,” he said.

Monday night rally

The Monday night rally in Durham was organized by BYP100, an African American youth and social justice organization.

The crowd, mostly wearing black, lined up on Morgan Street in front of the Carolina Theatre and followed a band of mostly drums. Ahead, police stopped traffic so the marchers could go through.

Protesters walked down Main Street, chanting ”I believe we will win” as they passed by boarded-up window fronts spray-painted with the message “Rest in Power.”

When they reached the county jail, they stood outside and yelled messages of support to those inside.

“Same story every time,” went one chant. “Being black is not a crime.”

BYP100 (the name derives from Black Youth Project) circulated a list of reforms that protesters want. Some were general, including asking that city officials listen to “the most marginalized of black folk.”

Others were more specific, including releasing some people from the county jail. Many people in jail haven’t been convicted of a crime but are there before trial for other reasons, such as inability to pay bail.

The marchers also asked for a “community wellness task force,” and more money for Lincoln Community Health Center.

In Raleigh on Monday night, officials put an 8 p.m. curfew in place to try to avert a third day of violence centered on downtown. As of 8:30 the protest crowds had thinned out, but hadn’t entirely gone away. However, police didn’t immediately take action to start clearing the streets or arresting them.

Durham organizer Datra Jackson, national director for BYP 100, said before the rally she didn’t know what to expect. “We are in wild times,” she said. She thanked the protesters for taking a risk to attend, adding that “cops, COVID-19 is killing black people in this country.”

Durham rapper Raheem Williams, who performs as Jooselord, said he is frequently racially profiled — but that it “feels amazing” to protest and advocate for better treatment.

“Being a black man is the scariest thing you could ever do on this planet,” he said. “People are always expecting your intentions are bad.”

Mahalia Jones, an aunt of George Floyd, watched a live broadcast of the Durham march from her home in North Carolina.

“I feel appreciated, I feel so honored,” she told WRAL as she watched protesters march through the city. “His mother would be so proud to see how much people care.”

Downtown buildings damaged

After organizers announced that their role in Monday night’s rally was over, someone sprayed graffiti on the police headquarters building and, later after the past of the protesters dispersed, several downtown buildings were damaged.

A window was broken in the building that used to house the Old Havana Sandwich Shop. Half of the door and window were shattered on the Main Street Pharmacy building, and someone also used a scooter to smash a window at the Unscripted Durham. Two hotel employees and a police officer who responded to the call swept up the damage.

Blocked highway leads to talks

Artist Skip Gibbs and his grassroots Other American Movement organized Monday’s other protest in the Bull City, an afternoon march that started at Los Primos Supermarket and included blocking the Durham Freeway at Alston Avenue.

The group, with about 10 members, also organized the Saturday day and evening peaceful protests in downtown Durham.

While walking through East Durham on Monday afternoon, the marchers chanted “No justice, No peace” and “Whose streets? Our Streets” as home owners raised their fists in and drivers honked their car horns in support.

Former Duke University basketball star Nolan Smith, who is now part of the team’s staff, walked at the head of the march wearing a Colin Kaepernick jersey. (Another recent Duke player, Jack White, was seen at the downtown Raleigh protest.)

Once on the freeway, marchers stopped briefly at the R. Kelly Bryant Bridge, a pedestrian bridge that spans N.C. 147, and hung a banner that stated: “We can make a deal, we can make a change.”

The goal was to secure the meeting with law enforcement and other officials, after peaceful protests downtown over the weekend had not gained enough traction, Gibbs said. The group also wants more of the city’s and county’s budgets put toward community engagement.

“We don’t want to burn down our city,” Gibbs said, before adding “inconveniencing white people” gave protesters leverage to get officials to come to the table.

About 60 marchers blocked the freeway for a half hour. Protesters had contacted police ahead of time, and while traffic initially backed up, police stationed a cruiser in one lane and used traffic cones to redirect people to the exit ramp.

Gibbs spoke by phone from the freeway with Davis and Birkhead, who are both African American, and got them to agree to a sit down at 1 p.m. Friday at The Fruit, an event space and former warehouse on Dillard Street. In his release, Birkhead said space is limited and attendance is by invitation only.

Capt. Kevin Cates of the Durham Police Department, who helped coordinate the phone call between Gibbs and Davis, said the group had contacted the Police Department before marching. There were no arrests.

This story was originally published June 1, 2020 at 3:25 PM with the headline "Durham sheriff, police chief vow to meet with marchers after peaceful freeway protest."