As pro-Palestinian protests have plagued college campuses all around the nation, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has not been spared. However, upon the protestors raising a Palestinian flag, the university quickly moved to replace it with the American flag.
Notably, the university’s chancellor, Lee Roberts, personally led a group of police officers to the flag pole, where the red, white, and blue were restored to the dismay of the angry crowd of protestors. As the American flag was being raised, roaring “USA” chants could be heard from supporters.
Following his brave actions to defend the nation’s flag, Roberts spoke to the press and maintained that the protestors would not disrupt operations at the university. He emphasized that the American flag is a unifying symbol that will not be replaced.
“This university doesn’t belong to a small group of protesters. It belongs to every citizen of North Carolina. Everybody in North Carolina, everybody who goes to school here, everybody who lives and works here. The flag represents all of us. To take down that flag and put up another flag, no matter what other flag it is. That’s antithetical to who we are. What this university stands for and what we have done for 229 years,” he said.
As Roberts spoke, protestors began to shout at him, interrupting his comments. However, he retained his composure and continued explaining how order would be maintained on campus. “The broad majority of this campus knows how to express their views without shouting, without violating university policy. That flag will stand there as long as I’m chancellor,” he said. “Tell the students we’re going to keep them safe from a very small minority of students who want to disrupt their experience. This university is for everybody,” he concluded.
The incident has since gone viral on social media, where Roberts has received immense praise for his actions to uphold the American flag, refusing to cave to the pro-Palestinian protestors like so many other colleges around the country.
“Wow, thats quite the powerful image! Its always heartening to see symbols like the flag being respected and restored. Its a good reminder of the values we hold dear. Kudos to Chancellor Lee Roberts and the police for their efforts. Lets strive for more moments of unity and respect in our community,” one user wrote.
Another person commented, “Bravo Chancellor! Throw those screaming disrespectful radicals out of school. I’m tired of the vocal minority forcing what they believe on the rest of us. God bless America.” Watch footage of the incident below:
Before Roberts stood up to the crowd of protestors, he had already been criticized by the liberal administration and students at UNC Chapel Hill for his Republican affiliations. The interim chancellor previously worked under the former Republican North Carolina governor, Pat McCrory. Roberts also has tied to conservative financier Art Pope.
“There’s nothing new about that information,” Roberts said. “It’s been disclosed in my financial disclosure forms since I first went on the board of governors. And there’s been this implication that because I serve on that board, I somehow am being disingenuous when I say this is a nonpartisan job and I plan to do it in a nonpartisan way. And I just have to say I don’t see that connection.”
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.
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