Minutes 04-16-2019 Regular Meeting

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7 the community may expect the presence of an armed person on or near the campus to trigger an Alert Carolina emergency notification. Chair Rich said yes, the Board can do this. PUBLIC COMMENT: Riley Ruske said, as a Veteran, he is a strong believer in the rule of law, but this resolution is an example of blatant hypocrisy and bias of local government. He said it was not long ago that mobs were damaging property on the UNC campus, but the Board supported and condoned these actions, even when the historical monument Silent Sam was destroyed by these same mobs. He said now other mobs are harassing other individuals and property, and the BOCC is condemning the actions and calling for prosecution. He said he agrees with this call, but feels the BOCC should have done the same thing for the other mobs. He said the BOCC needs to advocate for equal justice under the law for all members of the community when laws are broken, regardless of the ideology of the lawbreakers. He said if this evening's resolution must be passed, he would ask that the BOCC modify it to condemn the actions of all thugs and mobs that break the law. He asked if there is a reason this same resolution was not passed when the mobs broke the law during the Silent Sam protests. Seamus O' Neill suggested adding two additional whereas statements to the resolution: 1. After the first whereas, to add, "whereas on August 20, 2018 a mob of certain students, faculty, and persons known and unknown tore down the Silent Sam statue at risk to themselves, police officers and others, in violation of State law and UNC rules" 2. After the third whereas, to add, "whereas on March 22-24 Duke-UNC sponsored the conference on Gaza, many parts of which degenerated into an anti-Semitic rant and mockery" Jamie Paulen said she is a local attorney, was a magistrate for two years, and knows a lot of law enforcement officers. She said she left that office and is now involved in anti-racist issues. She said through her work she was present at two events at UNC, the night when the smoke bombs went off and the night of the dance/can party. She said she was shocked to see police officers that she knew basically attacking students. She said some of this is born out of the criminal proceedings that have occurred in the interim, and there is a request for reconsideration for one of the young people that was convicted because the evidence shows that the young person was shown to have not been able to do that which she was convicted of doing. She said she comes to her work with no anti-police bias, but what she saw was shocking. She said she is grateful for this proclamation and holding UNC accountable. She said there is video of evidence of a UNC police officer telling those carrying the firearms that these people were on campus, and UNC can take out an arrest warrant against these people today. Ashley Harris said when she went to UNC she was a part of the Silent Sam coalition, and it is very interesting that people equate the active practicing of hate speech and crimes with people of color addressing something that has been historically racist. She said she would like people of color to feel comfortable in this County, and she supports the resolution. Commissioner Dorosin echoed the last speakers' comments, and said the assertion that the Board's previous resolution and this resolution are inconsistent makes no sense to him. He said the Board has consistently opposed racism, racial intimidation, white supremacy, etc. He said the student protestors were treated one way, and the white supremacists were treated another way. He said it is critical for the Board to continue to speak out. Commissioner Price echoed Commissioner Marcoplos' request for action from UNC. Chair Rich said she and Commissioner Marcoplos met with the UNC Director of Communications, and agreed to on-going monthly conversations, which have occurred. She said she has mentioned this resolution, and also asked UNC to send updates to the Board as it