North Carolina Democratic Party
October 31, 2020

Ricky Hurtado Statement on The Law Enforcement Actions in Alamance County

ALAMANCE – Today, law enforcement participated in an egregious act of voter suppression and intimidation. Candidate for NC House District 63 Ricky Hurtado has released the following statement:

“Earlier today, a diverse group of nearly 200 people taking part in a permitted peaceful march to the polls in downtown Graham were pepper sprayed by the Alamance County Sheriff’s Department, with several arrested without provocation. Beyond local community members marching to cast their vote on the last day of early voting, clergy, a photographer from a local newspaper, elderly residents, and even children were affected by pepper spray, with several arrested. The use of force on display today as people exercised their first amendment rights to take a stand against racial injustice is unconscionable. It’s even more appalling to see the use of pepper spray in the midst of a public health crisis that directly impacts people’s ability to breathe.

The Alamance Community will not let today’s incident prevent their voices from being heard. Voters were motivated to legally gather and march to the polls because they know how important this election is. Turn out is record high and we expect that to continue—officials across the country are working hard to ensure voters will be safe and their vote will be counted.”

North Carolina Democratic Party
October 31, 2020

RALEIGH – Today, Sheriff’s Deputies in Alamance County pepper sprayed peaceful citizens, many of whom were people of color, with tear gas as they marched to the polls. Police arrested at least 10 peaceful gatherers. The Sheriff responsible was previously reprimanded by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2012 for a committing numerous constitutional violations and an “egregious pattern of racial profiling” in his department.

North Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Goodwin has released the following statement:

“The actions of these officers represents completely unwarranted police hostility and voter suppression. This group of North Carolinians was fully within their First Amendment rights to hold their protest and march to the polls. Our democracy is built on the idea of one voice, one vote; no one should be denied their constitutional right to cast their ballot, much less fear for their safety while they do so. It is egregious that local law enforcement would conduct themselves this way. North Carolinians are no strangers to voter suppression and intimidation — we know it when we see it. The North Carolina Democratic Party calls for swift and clear consequences for the offending officers.”