Unity in Community Protest_July

The Confederate soldier monument has stood in front of Mt. Zion Methodist church in Cornelius since 1922, (Bill Giduz photo)

The Confederate soldier monument has stood in front of Mt. Zion Methodist church in Cornelius since 1922, (Bill Giduz photo)

Diane Means stood at the railroad tracks to make sure drivers passing by took notice. One of her signs read: “At Heritage of Hate is Nothing to Celebrate.” (Bill Giduz photo)

Unity in Community co-president Sue Rankin White check in with participants as they arrived. (Bill Giduz photo)

The Unity in Community mission is featured on a banner. (Bill Giduz photo)

Protestors walked to the monument along Zion Street. (Bill Giduz photo)

These participants shared their feelings in a single word - with letters big enough for drivers on NC115 to see.

Several protestors stood at the fence surrounding the base of the statue with signs and shirts that expressed their opinions. (Bill Giduz photo)

Participants made their signs visible to passing motorists, a few of whom shouted obscenities in return. (Bill Giduz photo)

United in Community co-president Pam Jones introduced speakers to the mask-wearing protestors.(Bill Giduz photo)

State Senator Natasha Marcus was the first of a half-dozen speakers who talked to those gathered for the protest. (Bill Giduz photo)

Cornelius Mayor Woody Washam confessed that he had paid scant attention to the statue for his many years as a Cornelius resident. (Bill Giduz photo)

Alex Dricks-Ford spoke on behalf of the youth movement. (Bill Giduz photo)

Harold Rice, the new Executive Diretor of the Ada Jenkins Center. (Bill Giduz photo)

18-year-old Emily Peyton told the crowd that she has taken the initiative to protest - sometimes all by herself.

Rabbi David Lipper of Temple Kol Tikvah spoke to the protestors. (Bill Giduz photo)

A representative of the Smithville coalition expressed the importance of her family in her activism. (Bill Giduz photo)

The even concluded with an opportunity for particpants to register to vote. (Bill Giduz photo)