UNC Board of Governors Defying State Law, Refuses to Replace ‘Silent Sam’ Statue in Deference to Leftist Mobs

CHAPEL HILL – In all the hullabaloo about ‘Silent Sam,’ the memorial statue to the Confederate dead on the campus of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill torn down by a crazed social justice mob last year, university administrators explained to protesters that their hands were tied because of state laws governing the removal or relocation of such historical items. However, now, after the statue was torn down by those protesters, the UNC Board of Governors (BOG) is acting like the law doesn’t exist as they repeatedly delay a final plan for what to do with ‘Silent Sam.’

The law says that it should be put back, until the relevant commission approves of relocation plans, or the General Assembly changes the law. Specifically, a law passed in 2015 requires the N.C. Historical Commission to approve relocation of any historical markers or monuments on public property. They can be removed temporarily for repair or renovation, or moved to another location on the original property if it has “similar prominence, honor, visibility, availability, and access.” Interestingly, ignoring the law, and letting mob rule dictate officials’ actions, does not appear in any provision of that 2015 law.

The BOG has twice delayed decisions on what to do with the statue, and now refuses to even set a deadline for such a decision.

From the Carolina Journal:

“It seems as though no one wants to claim authority over the century-old statue. The N.C. Historical Commission, the body responsible for oversight of state monuments, made no ruling about Silent Sam after protesters removed it in August. The BOG called on UNC-Chapel Hill for a recommendation, which led to a proposal for a $5.3-million historical center to house the statue.

The BOG rejected that idea.

Most recently, a five-member UNC BOG task force was charged to deliver a plan for the monument by March 15, but the board extended the deadline to May, leading to yet another delay.

[Board chairman Harry] Smith said the task force has been “very deliberate” in trying to determine potential outcomes for Silent Sam. The university system has struggled to find a home for the statue. Former UNC Chapel Hill Chancellor Carol Folt, who left her position earlier this year, announced her resignation abruptly after removing what remained of Silent Sam’s pedestal.

For now, the statue is in an undisclosed storage facility.

“There’s been a lot of conversations, and those conversations are still ongoing,” Smith said. “The goal there is to simply get it right.” […]”

By, “get it right,” they appear to mean they do not want to make any decision that draws the continued ire of the social justice mobs. And there’s the rub; BOG officials appointed by the state are letting Leftist mobs determine their course of action instead of the laws that actually spell out what must be done.

Some lawmakers aren’t too pleased with the BOG and others ignoring the state statutes.

As quoted by the Carolina Journal, Rep. Larry Yarborough (R-Granville) said, “It is unfortunate that law authorities in Chapel Hill appear to be unable to uphold the law”