A North Carolina anti-ICE protester was arrested Friday afternoon after allegedly pouring a drink over a police officer’s head during a demonstration in Kannapolis.
Emily Cervantes Ramos, 18, was quickly tackled and handcuffed moments after the incident, which took place during a protest of roughly 75 people opposing immigration operations by ICE in nearby Charlotte. Many of the demonstrators were students from A.L. Brown High School, who reportedly walked out of class to join the protest. It is unclear whether Ramos was a student herself. The protest had started peacefully, with police present as a precaution.
Tensions escalated after some demonstrators accused an officer of taking their photos. One protester shouted, “You’re not even an officer, you’re just a no-life ass bitch,” while the officer remained silent.
Video from the scene shows Ramos running up from behind the officer and slamming a full plastic cup over his head before fleeing. She was pursued and quickly tackled by police. Bystanders were heard protesting her arrest, saying, “She didn’t even do anything.”
Ramos was charged with assault on a government official and resisting arrest. No other arrests were reported at the protest.
A GoFundMe campaign soon appeared to support Ramos’ family, describing her experience as “one of the most distressing things many of us have ever witnessed” and claiming it involved excessive police intervention. The fundraiser did not mention the alleged drink incident and has since been taken down.
Kannapolis Police Department defended the arrest, with Police Chief Terry Spry telling WCNC Charlotte, “We believe in every individual’s First Amendment rights, but if any person’s actions become illegal in situations such as these, we have no choice but to take appropriate action in order to protect the people and property of our city.”