Protesters topple Confederate statue at University of North Carolina

The controversial “Silent Sam” statue on the campus of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill has been toppled by protesters.

WRAL-TV reports that more than 300 people gathered at the Peace and Justice Plaza at about 7.30 on Monday evening before marching to the Confederate statue's base and calling for its removal. At 9 pm, protesters had marched down Franklin Street before returning back to the statue's base. By 9.30, “Silent Sam” was down.

There were some tense moments between police and protesters. One person was arrested and charged with concealing one's face during a public rally and resisting arrest.

Students, faculty and alumni have called the statue a racist image and asked officials to remove it.

Banners are used to cover the statue as people gather during a rally to remove it.

The university issued a statement on Twitter in response to the incident: “Tonight’s actions were dangerous, and we are very fortunate that no one was injured. We are investigating the vandalism and assessing the full extent of the damage.”

The statue was given to the university by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1909. It was erected in 1913.