Protester Arrested in North Carolina Incident
An anti-ICE protester in North Carolina faced quick legal consequences after allegedly throwing a drink at a police officer monitoring the demonstration.
Emily Cervantes Ramos, just 18 years old, was taken down and handcuffed shortly after striking a police officer in the head during the event in Kannapolis on Friday afternoon.
About 75 protesters gathered near Charlotte to voice their opposition to ICE’s immigration actions. Many of them were students from nearby Brown High School in Alabama, who had opted to skip classes to join in, as reported by local news.
It’s not entirely clear if Ramos was a student herself, but the protest initially remained peaceful, with police present mainly as a precaution.
However, as time went on, tensions escalated. Demonstrators began hurling insults at an officer they claimed was taking photos.
One protester shouted, “You’re not even a police officer, you’re just a lifeless piece of shit,” as the situation grew more heated.
It was at this moment that Ramos approached the officer and forcefully struck him with a full plastic cup.
After delivering the blow, she attempted to flee, but police quickly pursued her, with the crowd following closely behind.
Protesters can be heard yelling in alarm as the chase unfolded.
Ramos was swiftly tackled, handcuffed, and surrounded by police officers.
One onlooker insisted she hadn’t done anything wrong while the crowd continued to shout.
Ramos now faces charges for assault on a government official and resisting arrest, although no other arrests were reported during the protest.
After her arrest, a GoFundMe page was launched to support Ramos’ family, but it notably did not address her alleged actions during the incident.
The fundraiser stated: “This was one of the most tragic events many of us have ever witnessed and should never have happened to anyone peacefully exercising their rights,” but it was later canceled.
The Kannapolis Police Department observed the scene as reporters covered the arrest.
Police Chief Terry Spry emphasized to local news that while they support everyone’s First Amendment rights, they have to take action when illegal activities occur to ensure the safety of the community.
