ANOTHER Siler City girl groomed/kidnapped | State Rep's car egged at Durham GOP event | Feds cut grant for "social justice" center
No. 120 — Apr. 13-Apr. 19, 2025
Kidnapping/grooming epidemic continues w/ registered sex offender accused of trafficking another underage girl in Siler City
Chatham County Sheriff: Carrboro Man Arrested on Human Trafficking Charges - Chapelboro.com
Acusado de secuestro por contactar y transportar a menor - Que Pasa
Edwin Silva-Badillo, 22, was arrested on Thursday and charged with three counts of kidnapping and three counts of human trafficking of a child in relation to a minor female who had been reported missing in Siler City by her family last Saturday.
According to the Chatham County Sheriff's Office, Edwin Silva-Badillo was in contact with his victim through social media, and had brought her from Siler City to his apartment in Carrboro at least three times before his arrest.
In July 2024, Silva-Badillo plead guilty to two counts of indecent liberties with a child in relation to sexual conduct with a minor under the age of 16, and received a sentence of 18 months probation with a suspended sentence of 16-29 months incarceration, and was ordered to register as a sex offender.
Although he was subsequently arrested on, charged with, and plead guilty to resisting a police officer and intoxicated and disruptive, a violation of his probation, Silva-Badillo was apparently not in custody over the weekend with the kidnapping/trafficking is alleged to have occurred.
This arrest is oddly parallel to another case earlier this year, in which a 15-year-old girl was missing from Siler City for a week before being discovered at a hotel in Asheboro with one of the two illegal aliens who have since been charged in her kidnapping and sexual abuse.
For a town with a population of only 7,702 per the 2020 census, two such incidents in Siler City in a period of less than 60 days represents an extremely high per capita rate for this crime.
Just last week, in neighboring Lee County, another illegal alien was charged with the kidnapping and statutory rape of a 14-year-old girl who was reported missing when he picked her up from her middle school.
In a fourth case, in February, another two men were charged with kidnapping and human trafficking of a child in regards to a 15-year-old girl who went missing from Harnett County and was located the next day in Dare County by the coast.
One common factor in each of these four cases is that the alleged perpetrators are reported to have been in contact with the victims via the internet or cell phone prior to the abduction.
Vehicle belonging to Rep. Erin Paré (R-Wake) egged while attending GOP event in Durham
Erin Paré, who represents House District 37 in Southwestern Wake County, found her car had been egged while speaking as a guest at a Republican women's event held in Durham on Friday, which she attributes to "the Tolerant Left."
According to Paré, her vehicle with General Assembly plates was the only one targeted among a number of cars at the event with Republican stickers.
Egging a vehicle, like the political sign theft we covered leading up to the election, is certainly on the minor end of politically motivated crimes. However, even these nuisance crimes are indicative of a willingness to engage in anti-social behavior in pursuit of political ends which may escalate into more serious crimes such as the vandalism of Teslas, or even more seriously into significant acts of violence.
Attended an event tonight where I was the guest speaker along with Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (great lady, by the way) which was held in support of Republican women’s clubs in the area. Wonderful event, I was very honored to be a part of it. I leave the event to head home only to find that the Tolerant Left decided to egg my car (middle school style) while I was attending the event. I guess the price of eggs has come down enough at this point?? Just wanted the haters who did this to know - you didn’t damage my car, you actually reminded me that it was past time to give my good ole reliable Ford Explorer a much needed bath. She is looking very shiny and pretty tonight thanks to you, in particular, my General Assembly license plates, which I’m sure you noticed. Have a great weekend. Happy Easter! #eastereggs #earlycarwash
— Erin Paré (@ErinforNC) April 18, 2025
Federal funding for "social justice" center cut by Trump admin
Durham’s Pauli Murray Center Told Its Federal Grant “No Longer Serves the Interest of the United States” - INDY
A $330,800 federal grant to the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice in Durham has been terminated, with the Institute for Museum and Library Services informing the organization that "[the] grant is no longer consistent with the [IMLS’s] priorities and no longer serves the interest of the United States and the IMLS Program."
According to its website, the center's mission includes "address[ing] enduring inequities and injustices" and "work[ing] toward fairness and justice across race, class, sexuality, gender, and spiritual practice."
The IMLS may be facially neutral, but the government transparency account RandoLand has highlighted numerous grants at least partially funded by this organization which promote LGBTQ, DEI, and other leftist agendas, including the following 93 grants totaling $31,470,447:
Protest Watch
Riggs supporters return to Raleigh to protest NC Supreme Court decision
Fight to keep military votes in NC court election, Allison Riggs urges after ruling - N&O
Democratic candidate pledges to keep fighting in North Carolina’s close Supreme Court race - AP
On Monday, over a hundred supporters of NC Supreme Court Associate Justice Allison Riggs gathered in Raleigh over the continuing litigation by Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin
In the most recent update on associate justice race, which is the last of the 2024 election to remain uncertified, the North Carolina Supreme Court has ruled that the 60,000 voters whose registrations lacked a driver's license or Social Security number should have their vote counted, while "never resident" overseas voters should not be counted, and overseas/military voters who did not provide photo identification will be provided the opportunity to cure their ballot.
Anti-Trump protests continue
Protesters Rally in Durham against Cuts to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - INDY
"Dozens" of demonstrators participated in a rally in Durham on Monday outside a Bank of America location in protest of cuts to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
President Donald Trump's appointment to head the CFPB is seeking to cut nearly 90% of the agency's staff, a move that is being challenged in court by the National Treasury Employees Union, at least one of whose members was present at the Durham rally.
Thousands gather in Raleigh and Durham for another national "50501" protest
Thousands march in Raleigh, Durham and across NC to protest Trump policies - N&O
NC joins 50501 movement's nationwide 'Day of Action' with protests in Raleigh, Durham, and more - ABC11
Raleigh, Durham join nationwide day of action to protest actions of Trump administration - WRAL
On Saturday, concurrent rallies in Raleigh and Durham attracted over a thousand participants each in opposition to Trump and his administration.
Although the original "50501" protest referred to 50 protests in 50 states, this iteration reportedly featured over 700 protests nationwide.
According to reporting by AP Dillon, the protest in Raleigh was joined by the Poor People's Campaign and included sign guidelines warning against "swastikas or hate symbols" and "offensive or vulgar language," both of which have been present at the previous demonstrations.
NCCU protest over housing conditions draws chancellor response
5 arrested during protest at North Carolina Central University - ABC11
Students Protest Over NCCU Housing Conditions Leads to Arrests and Demands for Reform - NC Beat
NC Central chancellor on housing protest: 'We heard the voices' - ABC11
On Wednesday, over a hundred demonstrators gathered at the North Carolina Central University campus to protest poor housing conditions including mold, mildew, non-functional air conditioning, and parking.
However, the university declared this gathering an "unauthorized rally" which was "organized and attended, in part, by a significant number of people who are not NCCU students or otherwise affiliated with the university" and five of the demonstrators were arrested on charges of second-degree trespassing, failure to disperse, and resisting, delaying or obstructing a public officer. (NCCU says at least three of the arrestees were not affiliated with the university.)
In response, the university's chancellor Dr. Karrie Dixon expressed sympathies with the rally's message, describing how her administration was working to lobby the legislature for a $100+ million investment in the school's facilities to "address our campus's deferred maintenance needs."
Follow-ups
Durham teachers' union announced pickets days after "meet and confer" policy approved
Durham School Board Approves State’s First Meet and Confer Policy - INDY
Durham staff, educators press board on policy stances ahead of budget vote - N&O
Members of Durham Association of Educators to hold walk-ins and picket for priority support - ABC11
DAE Asks Durham School Board to Delay Budget Vote, Announces “Practice Pickets” - INDY
Just days after the Durham Board of Education approved a first-in-the-state "meet and confer" policy to give the Durham Association of Educators a "seat at the table," the DAE was already announcing "practice pickets" and/or walk-ins at 28 work-sites in the district to promote the union's budget priorities, which include budget transparency, increased pay, and ICE non-cooperation.
Although the approved policy gave the union nearly everything they asked for, the DAE members present at the board meeting "stormed out" after the 4-3 vote, as characterized by INDY Week.
The disagreement was specifically over the minimum percentage of membership necessary for an "employee representative organization" to take part in the discussions authorized by the policy: the DAE wanted a 30% minimum membership requirement, while the board approved a 6% minimum in order to comply with NC GS § 115C‑335.9, which guarantees "equal access for all education employee associations."
At a meeting on Monday with DAE representatives met, three of the district's board members declined to commit to the union's demand that the board delay next week's budget until "greater budget transparency" with the union was achieved, leading to the DAE announcing "practice pickets and walk-ins at 28 worksites across DPS" for Wednesday.
Previous Coverage:
Teachers union rallies for official recognition by Durham Public Schools (No. 117 — Mar. 29, 2025)
Links
Derek Thompson Talks “Abundance” with Raleigh, Durham Mayors - INDY
How “Tesla Takedown” Activists Fool the Public - City Journal
Court reinstates NIH pandemic research grants for Duke, UNC. But for how long? - N&O
Durham County
Leftists signs stolen from MLK Jr. Pkwy. and Hope Valley Rd. - r/bullcity (reddit) 1, 2
Amid An Unprecedented Immigration Crackdown, Durham Tries to Hold the Line - The Assembly
Durham County sheriff says his office is underfunded. Here’s what we know - N&O
Loved ones remember Durham man killed in possible road rage shooting: 'Generous, kind-hearted' - ABC11
Former Durham deputy police chief files federal discrimination complaint after firing - N&O
Franklin County
Two men arrested in Franklin County deputy's attempted murder case - WRAL
Granville County
Crash, deadly shooting may have started with road rage, Butner police say; 2 charged with murder - ABC11
Orange County
Orange County taxpayers fear rising home values, budgets could cost their homes - N&O
Orange County commissioners consider purchasing land for new crisis diversion facility - ABC11
Climate center in NC shuts down after lapse in funding from Trump administration - N&O
16-year-old arrested in armed carjackings in downtown Chapel Hill, Carrboro - N&O
Wake County
Gunmen Target Rapper OMB Peezy After Nightclub Performance in Raleigh - NC Beat
Shootings, stabbings and back taxes: Raleigh's StarBar has troubled history - WRAL
New details revealed about fatal shooting at North Hills restaurant - N&O
Capital Blvd toll road option, among alternatives presented to Raleigh City Council - ABC11
New RPD Chief lays out vision during community conversation in southeast Raleigh - ABC11
Town manager resigns after 4 months in Zebulon, he says it's over a 'serious personnel matter' - ABC11
Vance County
Man charged in 2 NC murder cases less than a year apart takes plea deal, gets 2 life sentences - ABC11