news-record.com

GREENSBORO — Five people were arrested during the City Council meeting Tuesday night after a peaceful protest in City Hall.

The arrests overshadowed the council’s business, which included agreeing to lend the Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship $1.2 million to help renovate a new building.

The protesters, from a group called the Spirit of the Sit-In Movement, took over the council dais during a break in the council meeting. The group was protesting what they called a “subculture of corruption” in the police department.

Five protesters, who would not disperse as requested, were arrested. They were each charged with one count of trespassing.

Young people from the sit-in movement group have been attending council meetings in recent weeks, asking council members to address problems within the police department.

The group, which includes local college students, has protested the police gang unit’s treatment of local members of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation and questioned the way the city handled discrimination complaints from black police officers.

During the council’s 7:30 p.m. break, group members took over the dais in protest. One member banged the mayor’s gavel.

They were asked to leave by a plainclothes police officer and city security. Some protesters dispersed and others were escorted out of the chambers. Other protesters shouted the opening words to the Declaration of Independence.

About a dozen police officers took the five protesters into custody, as they chanted, “The spirit of the sit-in movement lives.”

Those arrested were Cherell Brown, Wesley Morris, Clarence Bradley Hunt II, Carlyle Phillips and Jonathan Johnson.

They were released on a written promise to appear in court June 9, according to arrest reports. The reports also show that they are prohibited from being on any city property unless conducting official business, and they cannot be on city streets from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. unless they are going to school or work.

The group is planning a rally at 3 p.m. today in front of City Hall. It’s unclear if the five arrested will attend.

As Hunt was taken away, his mother Yvonne said she didn’t like to see him arrested, but she knew he was fighting for a good cause.

“They believe strongly there is some injustice going on,” she said.

The disruption prompted anger from City Council members, who defended the police department and called some of the group’s accusations false.

Councilwoman T. Dianne Bellamy-Small asked the city manager to respond to as many of the complaints as possible.

In its business Tuesday, the council agreed to offer the Nussbaum Center a loan to help it renovate a building for its new headquarters.

Mayor Bill Knight met with Nussbaum Center officials late last week to go over their financial information.

He asked council members to give them a low-interest loan to encourage the nonprofit to boost its private fundraising to make the payments.

Council members agreed to offer a $1.2 million loan, with the first payment due in two years — contingent on other grants that will help with the renovation.

Staff writer Dioni L. Wise contributed to this report.

Contact Amanda Lehmert at 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert@news-record.com