Anarchists in North Carolina, Occupy buildings and desecrate churches

Two possibly related stories out of North Carolina:

Chapel Hill officials: protester arrests were appropriate

By: Andrea Pacetti

Chapel Hill police say more than 70 people affiliated with an anarchist book fair broke into an empty building on Franklin Street Saturday. Police moved in Sunday and arrested seven protesters inside. Now, Chapel Hill’s mayor and police chief say the actions of police were appropriate.

CHAPEL HILL — Chapel Hill police say more than 70 people affiliated with an anarchist book fair broke into an empty building on Franklin Street Saturday. Police moved in Sunday and arrested seven protesters inside.

Now, Chapel Hill’s mayor and police chief say the actions of police were appropriate. Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt and Police Chief Chris Blue held a news conference at Town Hall Monday afternoon, which turned rowdy at times. Many were angry at the police’s show of force.

Many of those who were at the Yates Building Sunday showed up with signs and at times shouted at the mayor and police chief.
Blue says the actions the police took were appropriate and prudent. He says the anarchist group broke into the building Saturday night. Police say they monitored them until Sunday afternoon when the least amount of people would be around. Then, a tactical team of about 20 officers went in. They arrested seven protesters and charged them with breaking and entering.

Those that were there were upset that the officers were heavily armed and pointed rifles at protesters. But police say they felt there was some threat to them because anarchist group tactics often include destroying property and placing traps in buildings.

Several people on the sidewalk near the building were also detained by police, but not charged.
“Those photographs of Chapel Hill police officers approaching the building are not the kind of images we want to have come to mind when we think about our relationships with our community,” said Blue. “However, based on the information we had at the time and the potential risk to officers, suspects and passersby, I believe that our response to this break in was the correct one.”
“One officer had his gun on me… right at my back,” said protester Stephen Greenslade.
The mayor and police chief say their actions will be reviewed. The police chief and mayor also answered questions about why a News & Observer photographer at the scene was delayed and had her camera taken away.

Blue says that incident will be looked at and that the camera was returned.

Sheriff, SBI investigating hate crimes at several area churches

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ANSON COUNTY, N.C. — Both the Anson County and Stanly County Sheriff’s Offices along with the State Bureau of Investigation are investigating a disturbing string of church vandalisms that many are calling the “worst they’ve ever seen.”

The hardest hit church – Cedar Hill AME Zion Church in Ansonville – was in ruins Monday night as Ansonville Volunteer Fire Fighters and church elders tried to clean up a mess so devastating it left many church members in tears.

Spray painted on the church building were phrases “God is a lie,” and “House of the Devil,” as well as racial slurs and swastikas. Inside the church, vandals defecated on the pulpit, tore out air conditioning units, broke every stained glass window and left water running in the building. They also tried to burn a cross on the front lawn of the historical church.

Reverend Renee Bethea – the pastor at Cedar Hill since July – said, “They tore up our building but they didn’t take our spirit.” She cried as she told of a child’s tombstone that had been thrown through a church window.

By nightfall, crews had boarded up all windows at the church and taped off areas too dangerous to walk through.

Bethea cried as she asked members not to bring children to see the church and the devastation, saying it is too upsetting for young people to see.

Cedar Hill was not the only church that vandals hit in the area. In neighboring Stanly County, investigators are also looking into six churches that were vandalized Monday. Police there did not have many specifics but told NewsChannel 36 that none of those churches had been broken into, but were vandalized from outside.

One of those churches is Faith Baptist Church. Graphic pictures as well as “666” was spray painted on the outside of the church. One church member was taking pictures Tuesday morning for the insurance adjuster. He said the entire outer wall may have to be power washed and re-painted.

Police said they do not have any suspects at this time and are hoping anyone with information will come forward. The Stanly County Sheriff’s Department is offering a $1000 Crime Stoppers Reward. The number to call is 704-982-0711.

Besides the Cedar Hill AME Zion Church, here is a list of the other churches that have been damaged: