Town officials condemn ‘aggressive police tactics’ at UNC, want charges dropped

Chapel Hill and Carrboro officials on Wednesday condemned “aggressive police tactics” and “the arrests of peaceful protesters” at a pro-Palestinian rally Tuesday on UNC’s campus.

In a statement shared on social media, eight of 15 elected town officials also urged Orange-Chatham District Attorney Jeff Nieman to dismiss the charges and citations issued to protesters “and to prioritize restorative justice rather than punitive measures.”

“We, the undersigned, believe that, in taking this unnecessary step, UNC administration created an environment that inevitably resulted in an escalation of force, including the use of pepper spray against its own students,” the statement said. “This use of aggressive police tactics against students and community members invites aggressive responses, and only serves to escalate an already tense situation.”

Nieman responded to the statement in a news release Wednesday evening, saying the Rules of Professional Conduct limit what he can say about the case. People charged with criminal offenses have the right to be represented by an attorney and are “presumed innocent until proven guilty in court,” he said.

Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee and Chapel Hill Mayor Jess Anderson did not sign the statement.

Anderson and Chapel Hill Town Manager Chris Blue, who retired last year as police chief, did not respond to phone calls from The News & Observer on Tuesday seeking comment about the protest on campus.

Anderson briefly addressed the situation at Wednesday’s council meeting, saying it “has been a difficult week for our community,” raising concerns and creating tension that likely is not over. But campus protests are part of living in a town with a world-class university and a community that values the right to free speech and encourages people to speak up, she said.

“While we may support different solutions to the horrific situation in Gaza, we all want many of the same things,” Anderson said. “We want the violence to end. We want the hostages to be returned. We want people in Gaza to get the food and supplies that they desperately need, and we want a lasting peace.”

Chapel Hill and Carrboro police did not assist UNC Police with the protest response, though Chapel Hill police did answer other calls on campus during the protest, a town spokesman told The N&O on Tuesday.

That angered Chapel Hill Board of Trustees Chairman John Preyer, who on Tuesday called it “outrageous that the Town of Chapel Hill did not provide law enforcement support to UNC‘s first responders working to establish order on campus.”

The District Attorney’s Office “remains committed to our core responsibility of public safety,” Nieman said, pledging to “fairly and impartially administer the criminal laws of this State.”

“I can understand why some public officials may feel compelled to speak out on matters of public interest. However, a prosecutorial decision should never be made prior to collection and thorough review of all the relevant evidence,” Nieman said. “That evidence is still being compiled; therefore, it’s impossible for anyone to make a reasoned determination as to how best to proceed in these matters.”

This story was originally published May 1, 2024 at 4:10 PM with the headline "Town officials condemn ‘aggressive police tactics’ at UNC, want charges dropped."

Tammy Grubb

The News & Observer

919-829-8926

Tammy Grubb has written about Orange County’s politics, people and government since 2010. She is a UNC-Chapel Hill alumna and has lived and worked in the Triangle for over 30 years.