Pride flag vandalism | NC troopers dismissed over crash dishonesty | Effective protest? NC House kills last-minute shrimping ban
No. 130 — Jun. 22-Jun. 28, 2025
LGBTQ pride flags stolen/vandalized in Raleigh, Cary, Apex
Man removed Pride flags from roundabout near NC State, got into altercation, Raleigh police say - WRAL
Raleigh Police responded to an altercation last Saturday between a man and a woman at a roundabout next to the NC State campus after the man was reportedly caught pulling up small flags, in what is one of at least three similar incidents reported in Wake County during this year's "LGBTQ Pride Month."
Although the man was reportedly caught on camera, no charges appear to have been filed:
Pride flags stolen in Cary neighborhood days ahead of Raleigh Pride celebration - WRAL
Earlier in the month, multiple residents of the Iron Gate neighborhood in Cary reported that their pride flags (and possibly a Ukraine flag) had gone missing from in front of their homes. No suspects appear to have been identified.
LGBTQ group says pride flags were vandalized at Apex Park - WRAL
On June 4, Nelson Julio de Abreu Santana was arrested and charged with two counts of Injury to Personal Property after members of a LGBTQ fitness group say he vandalized the pride flags they use to mark their meeting point at Apex Community Park on multiple occasions. At least one of these incidents was caught on camera, showing the man alleged to be Santana throwing a pride flag and a shovel into the woods.
Since he was release on a $500 bond for these charges, Santana has been arrested twice for trespassing, once at a pizza shop (to which he plead guilty and was sentenced to one day in jail, time served) and once at the apartment complex he had formerly listed as his residence.
Two state troopers fired for coverup after drunk pursuit target's crash
2 Troopers dismissed from NC Highway Patrol months after Tyrone Mason deadly crash investigation - ABC11
NC troopers fired after video shows one lied about role in fatal Raleigh crash - N&O
Trooper Garrett Macario and his supervisor Sergeant Matthew Morrison have been dismissed from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol after evidence surfaced of the pair agreeing to mislead Raleigh Police about the fact that Macario had attempted to pull over a drunk driver shortly before he fatally crashed on Capital Boulevard.
31-year-old Tyrone Mason was heading north on Capital in the early morning hours of October 7, 2024 with a blood alcohol level of 0.11, according to the medical examiner's report.
Mason was going "70 (mph) in a 40" when he passed where Macario was parked near the intersection of US 70, according to Macario's later conversation with his supervisor. Macario attempted to pull Mason over, but Mason continued on out of sight and Macario turned his lights/sirens off after only 30-40 seconds.
However, when Macario came around the next curve, he found Mason's crashed vehicle on the other side of the opposite lanes of traffic, with Mason already "DRT" or "dead right there."
Before RPD arrived, Macario made a phone call to his superior officer Sgt. Morrison, who gave him the following advice about communicating with RPD regarding the crash:
Morrison: "I wouldn't mention anything to them about you trying to stop him."
Macario: "No, I won't."
Morrison: "Just say, 'Hey man, I drove up on this.'"
Macario: "Yeah."
Morrison: "And leave it at that."
Macario followed Morrison's advice when RPD arrived, even answering "no" to the direct question of "were you like pulling him over, or something?"
After the deception was revealed, Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman dismissed approximately 180 cases the troopers were involved in, due to the potential unreliability of their testimony, but ultimately closed an investigation into their conduct without pressing charges.
In response to Macario's and Morrison's dismissal, the attorney's representing Mason's mother in a federal civil rights suit against Macario issued a statement, in which they once again claimed (without evidence) that Macario's attempt to pull Mason over "led to" his drunken crash.
Previous Coverage:
State troopers accused of orchestrating coverup after pursuit subject fatally crashed (No. 123 — May 10, 2025)
Released video shows state trooper did not cause fatal crash of drunken pursuit target (No. 125 — May 24, 2025)
Protest Watch
Successful protest: NC House kills last minute shrimping ban
Bill aimed at banning inshore shrimp trawling in NC dead - ABC11
In a rare moment of immediately effective grassroots protest, the NC House "killed" a bill which had been amended at the last minute to heavily restrict shrimp trawling after shrimpers and their supporters gathered at the Capitol, met with representatives, and circled the block in their trucks.
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House Bill 442 had originally been passed by the House in May to expand flounder and red snapper fishing, but was amended by the Senate just two days before passing it on June 19th to ban shrimp trawling inland and within 1/2 mile of the shoreline.
The numerous demonstrations in Raleigh generally seem to have more of an effect in self-satisfaction for the participants, rather than any real effect or outcome, so what can we glean from the efficacy of this protest?
One of the primary powers of a grassroots protest is to signal that a large number of citizens feel strongly about an issue: for every person who is willing to take time out of their busy day to come to the Capitol, there is a significant multiplier of citizens who may feel strongly enough about the issue to consider it in their voting decisions.
For issues such as gun rights/gun control or immigration enforcement, which are already drawn along party lines, the politicians have already taken into account the fact that many voters have strong feelings of either agreement or disagreement, depending on the politician/position, so this "signal" is unlikely to change their minds.
However, in a situation like this where the issue has not been politicized and the balance of equities is with the protesters (attempting to significantly curtail an entire industry with little notice), making politicians aware that a segment of the population care deeply and are willing to do something about it can be an effective tactic.
"No War on Iran" protest
On Thursday, approximately 40-50 protesters gathered in Raleigh to march in support of Palestine and opposition to Israel, as well as the US bombing attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.
The protest, which was billed as "All Eyes on Gaza" and "No War on Iran" was organized in conjunction with the ANSWER Coalition and chapters of the the Palestinian Youth Movement, Jewish Voice for Peace, the Democratic Socialists of America, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation:
There’s no pride in lgbtqlmnop. That flag should be banned not only in NC but nation wide