CARRBORO – The Carrboro Board of Aldermen last week voted to issue apologies to the reporters and bystanders who were detained in the Nov. 13 police raid on occupiers of the Yates Motor Co building.
Concerns have been raised about the police’s response to the occupation, which began the night of Nov. 12, led, reportedly, by attendees of the Carrboro Anarchist Bookfair, and resulting in a dramatic encounter with police the next afternoon, with seven arrests.
Residents have questioned the police’s failure to attempt to communicate with those inside the building prior to the raid, in which police brandished long-range rifles and detained those on the sidewalk outside the entrance of the building – including two journalists – before rushing inside.
In accordance with Carrboro’s mutual aid agreement with Chapel Hill, Carrboro police assisted Chapel Hill police in the operation. The board voted unanimously to apologize to the detained reporters, and voted 4-3 to apologize to detained uninvolved persons outside the building. Board members Joal Hall Broun, Jacquie Gist and Lydia Lavelle voted against issuing the second apology, saying they preferred to wait until more information became available.
The Chapel Hill Town Council last week voted against a petition by member Laurin Easthom to issue an apology to the reporters, later voting to refer the measure to staff for consideration.
– Staff Reports